1937-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with catalog code UVC-1400 and die marriage reference DMR-010, the 1937-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002 Lincoln Wheat Cent presents a light extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and the upper wheat ears — a subtle but attributable doubling pattern affecting both the motto inscription and the upper portions of the reverse's signature agricultural design elements. The die state progression documents three stages: Stage A shows both reverse and obverse in early die state; Stage B is mid-die-state (unconfirmed); Stage C shows late die state characteristics with a die crack in the lower right wheat grains and die scratches running north-south through the TY of LIBERTY on the obverse. The Stage C die crack in the wheat grains is diagnostically useful because it provides an independent confirmation of die state beyond the primary doubling feature — collectors finding a specimen with both the reverse doubling and the wheat grain crack can be confident they have a later-stage example of this variety. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse Lincoln portrait, while the wheat ears reverse served the denomination from 1909 through 1958. Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1937, the coin is composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1937-S had a mintage of approximately 34.5 million pieces. The designation DDR-002 indicates this is the second most significant or second-documented doubled die reverse for the 1937-S, and the light nature of the extra thickness means that higher magnification (10x or greater) and good lighting conditions are recommended for confident attribution of the subtle doubling.

Die Markers

• UVC-1400
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are
• EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Die crack in lower Right wheat grains – LDS
• Die scratches North-South through TY of LIBERTY – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Larry Patterson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References