1941 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-027

Description

Twenty-seventh in the extensive obverse doubled die census for the 1941 Lincoln wheat cent, DDO-027 shows light spread confined to the last T of TRUST — one of the narrowest doubling footprints in the entire Lincoln cent DDO catalog, affecting a single letter rather than the broad inscriptions typical of most doubled die varieties. VarietyVista assigned identifiers UVC-3356 and DMR-034, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where both obverse and reverse surfaces show late-mid die state (LMDS) characteristics, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The confirmed LMDS designation for Stage B indicates specimens have been verified at an advanced but not terminal wear state, positioning this die in the later portion of its production life. The comment "Full T over Broken T Hub" provides critical context: this die was produced using a hub where the T punch was in its full (complete) form, overstriking or replacing a previous hub impression made with a "broken T" — a hub where the T had developed a break or chip. This hub transition from broken to full T is a documented phenomenon in Lincoln cent production where hub maintenance involved replacing worn or damaged hubs, and dies produced during the transition can carry traces of both hub states. Philadelphia struck approximately 887.0 million cents in 1941, a massive pre-war output reflecting heightened industrial and military preparation. Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait, entering its thirty-second year, provided the canvas for this subtle variety. The light spread on only the final T of TRUST means collectors must focus examination tightly on that single letter under 15x magnification, looking for a secondary impression of the T slightly displaced from the primary, while the Full T over Broken T hub characteristic provides a secondary confirmation point by checking the T formation against reference images of both hub types.

Die Markers

• UVC-3356
• DMR-034
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are LMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bob Gittis
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References