1942-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Primary doubled die reverse for the 1942 Denver Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, DDR-001 shows medium triple spread inside the upper left portion of the O in ONE combined with double spread on the outer right side of that same O and on the upper right E of CENT. Cataloged as UVC-1540 and DMR-019 in the VarietyVista system, three die stages have been documented: Stage A is an early die state identified by a die gouge running northeast through the lower second S of STATES, paired with an early die state obverse. Stage B represents a mid-die state and Stage C a late die state, both awaiting confirmed specimens. The triple spread within the O of ONE is particularly noteworthy — most doubled dies show only two impressions, and triple spreading indicates the die received three distinct hubbing impressions with measurable displacement between each. Victor David Brenner's bronze Lincoln Wheat Cent, composed of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, remained in this traditional composition through 1942 before the wartime steel cent experiment of 1943. The Denver Mint's 1942 production was substantial as the nation's economy surged with wartime industrial mobilization.

Die Markers

• UVC-1540
• DMR-019
• Stage A:
• Die gouge Northeast through lower second S of STATES – EDS
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Garland McKelvey
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References