1940 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1940 1c WDDR-004 and cross-referenced as CONECA 2-O-VI and Coppercoins 1940P-1DO-001, this Lincoln Wheat Cent reverse doubled die variety is part of a die marriage that includes a doubled obverse listed separately as 1940 1c WDDO-002. The pairing of a DDR and a DDO within the same die marriage is relatively uncommon and diagnostically valuable — it means both the obverse and reverse working dies in this pair received hub misalignment events, either from the same hubbing session or from independent incidents during their respective manufacture. Reverse die markers include a die gouge touching the center right side of the second U in UNUM, another die gouge under the right side of the M in UNUM, and pitted surface area between the top of the left wheat ear and the rim. Obverse die markers are documented under the companion WDDO-002 listing. The 1940 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the standard bronze alloy of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams on a 19 mm planchet. Philadelphia's 1940 mintage of 586,825,872 cents — among the highest in the Wheat Cent series — consumed an enormous number of working dies, creating statistical opportunities for hub misalignment events. Victor David Brenner's wheat ears reverse, with its central E PLURIBUS UNUM inscription flanked by the two wheat stalks, provides the design elements where the Class VI doubling manifests as extra thickness on the affected design features.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Karen Peterson Cross References: CONECA: 2-O-VI, Coppercoins: 1940P-1DO-001
• CONECA: 2-O-VI, Coppercoins: 1940P-1DO-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1940 1¢ WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References