1938 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

1938-D WDDR-002 is a doubled die reverse on the 1938-D Lincoln Wheat cent, cataloged by the Wexler team. EPU (E PLURIBUS UNUM), the dots, and the right wheat ear show extra thickness, and light separation appears on the E of EPU, the left dot, and the left wheat ear. Wexler traces three obverse dies. The first, used for Stage A, is WDDO-001, with a light crack running WNW through the head from the middle of the eyebrow and a light curving crack over the designer's initials. The second (Stage B) has a gouge on the vertical bar of WE's E, on its left side, roughly a quarter of the way up; a light, straight east-west crack over the designer's initials, chipped at its right side; and split serifs on the mint mark. The third (Stage C) has two short scratches that run south from the rim, between TRUST's U and S. Reverse Stage A: a chip on the left wheat stem, nearer the ear, beneath the O of OF; a light crack close to the left wheat tip; a tiny die dot directly below the V-shaped center of the M in AMERICA; and two small gouges touching the inside of AMERICA's E at its bottom, a marker easiest to see on the later stages. Stage B keeps the Stage A markers and adds a light, chipped crack on the vertical bar of CENT's T. On Stage C the Stage A markers are still present and the Stage B crack is a little longer, though on the coin examined its right part was lost to mechanical doubling on the T. Al Raddi submitted Stage A, Tim Wissert Stage B, and Brian Ribar Stage C. Wexler matches Stage A to CONECA 3-R-VI, which Coppercoins numbers 1938D-1DR-001, and Stages B and C to CONECA 2-R-II-C+VI, numbered 1938D-1DR-002 by Coppercoins. Wexler adds that, from the coins examined, it is still somewhat uncertain whether Stage B comes before or after Stage C.

Cross References

• WDDR-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1938-D 1¢ WDDR-002

External References