1938 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

A proof-only variety from the Philadelphia Mint, the 1938 Lincoln Wheat Cent DDR-003 displays medium extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, both wheat ears, and the upper portion of ONE CENT — a broad spread affecting multiple reverse design elements cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-1409 with die marriage reference DMR-009. Three documented die states trace this die's working life: Stage A represents early die state where die markers are unconfirmed, Stage B is identified by the absence of the left dot in E PLURIBUS UNUM paired with mid-die-state wear on both obverse and reverse, and Stage C shows both dies in late die state. The missing dot in Stage B serves as a critical diagnostic, as this die deterioration marker narrows attribution to a specific point in the die's service life. Proof Lincoln Wheat Cents from the late 1930s were struck in limited quantities for collector sets, and doubled die varieties on proof coins are particularly valued because the superior striking quality and mirror-like fields make doubling easier to detect and photograph. The combination of hub doubling and progressive die deterioration documented across three stages makes this variety especially informative for die study.

Die Markers

• UVC-1409
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Left dot in E PLURIBUS UNUM is missing – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Michael L. Ellis
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References