1938-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Designated DDR-004 with die variety codes UVC-1414 and DMR-012, this 1938-D Lincoln Wheat Cent shows extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and the upper tips of the wheat stalks on the reverse. Three die stages have been documented, progressing from early die state through mid-die state to late die state, though all stages remain unconfirmed pending additional specimen examination. The extra thickness on the wheat tips is a common diagnostic location for Lincoln Cent doubled die reverses, as the fine parallel lines of the wheat ear design readily reveal even minor hub doubling through visible thickening or separation. The 1938-D issue represents the final full year of wheat cent production before the dramatic ramp-up in coinage that accompanied wartime demands beginning in the early 1940s. Denver struck approximately 20.01 million cents in 1938, a moderate mintage that makes attributed die varieties like DDR-004 genuinely scarce relative to the total population. The doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM is typically the most accessible diagnostic for initial detection, while the wheat tip thickening provides confirmation under higher magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-1414
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References