1940 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Medium northward spread on Lincoln's eyelid with light spread on the 40 of the date distinguishes this third doubled die obverse for the 1940-D Lincoln Wheat Cent. VarietyVista cataloged this variety with die markers UVC-2584 and DMR-013, documenting die stages with Stage A showing the obverse at early-to-mid die state and the reverse at late-to-mid die state, Stage B at mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The contrasting die states between obverse and reverse in Stage A suggest the obverse die was fresher than its reverse counterpart — a common scenario when one die in a pair wore out faster and was replaced while the other continued in service. The 1940-D cent was struck at the Denver Mint on the eve of World War II, during a year when President Roosevelt was running for an unprecedented third term and the U.S. economy was accelerating from defense spending. Three documented DDOs for 1940-D reflects the systematic research applied to pre-war Denver Mint cents. Doubling on Lincoln's eyelid — the fine detail of Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait — indicates hub misalignment significant enough to displace facial features, while the lighter spread on the date digits 40 shows the doubling extended to the lower portion of the die face as well.

Die Markers

• UVC-2584
• DMR-013
• Stage A:
• Obverse is EMDS
• Reverse is LMDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References