1938 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Extremely strong extra thickness across both wheat ears and stems, E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots, USA, and ONE CENT — combined with Class II separation lines on both wheat stems — make WDDR-001 the benchmark 1938-P Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die reverse, cross-referenced as CONECA 1-R-VI, Crawford CDDR-001, and Coppercoins 1938P-1DR-002. Die markers on the obverse include a die crack above the designer's initials and a die gouge at the base of the bust between the initials and the last fold. Reverse die markers include die scratches running SW to NE below the last A in AMERICA and die clash marks through the lower E of ONE. The 1938-P Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck in bronze — 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc — at the Philadelphia Mint under Victor David Brenner's design. Class II hub doubling produces a mechanical separation between the primary and secondary images, and on WDDR-001 that separation is extremely strong on the wheat ears and EPU, delivering the bold visual impact that has kept this variety prominent in the Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die reference literature.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Albert B. Raddi Cross References: CONECA: 1-R-VI, Crawford: CDDR-001, Coppercoins: 1938P-1DR-002
• CONECA: 1-R-VI, Crawford: CDDR-001, Coppercoins: 1938P-1DR-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1938 1¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References