1942 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-006

Description

Bearing the VarietyVista universal variety code UVC-1523 and die marriage record DMR-008, the 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent DDO-006 exhibits strong spread on the eyelid combined with faint but wide spread on the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This doubled die was produced through hub doubling, where slight misalignment between successive hub impressions during the die-making process created overlapping design elements that transferred to every coin struck from the affected die. The strong eyelid spread is the primary diagnostic feature, with the secondary spread on IN GOD WE TRUST being fainter but notably wide in its displacement. Cross-referenced as FS-103 in the Fivaz-Stanton attribution guide (listed as 18.9), this variety benefits from recognition in one of the most widely used error coin references, enhancing its visibility among collectors and dealers. Three die stages have been documented: Stage A shows both obverse and reverse in early die state (EDS), with the doubling at its sharpest and die surfaces showing minimal wear or fatigue marks. Stage B progresses to mid-die state (MDS), where die wear has begun to soften the doubling characteristics while flow lines and die polish marks may alter the surface appearance. Stage C is noted as late die state (LDS) but remains unconfirmed, suggesting that coins from the die's final production phase have not been definitively attributed. The 1942 Lincoln Wheat Cent was produced at the Philadelphia Mint in enormous quantities during the early World War II period, when cent production was ramping up before the wartime transition to zinc-coated steel cents in 1943. Collectors seeking this DDO-006 should examine the eyelid area under magnification as the primary attribution point, using the FS-103 cross-reference to access published diagnostic photographs.

Die Markers

• UVC-1523
• DMR-008
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• FS-103
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References