1942-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Showing strong spread to the southwest on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date, the 1942-S DDO-002 Lincoln Wheat Cent is one of the more visually prominent doubled die obverses from wartime production. Cataloged by VarietyVista with codes UVC-1543 and DMR-018, the variety documents three stages. Stage A is early die state, unconfirmed. Stage B at early-mid die state is identified by a light die crack across the shoulder to the lapel, with the reverse also at early-mid die state. Stage C is late die state, unconfirmed. The southwesterly spread means doubling is most detectable on inscriptions in the upper and right obverse portions, where the shifted impression creates visible separation below and to the left. The shoulder-to-lapel crack at Stage B provides a reliable secondary diagnostic beyond the doubling itself. San Francisco's 1942 cent production consumed enormous quantities of die pairs, and this die's early crack development documents its monitored stages before retirement.

Die Markers

• UVC-1543
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Light die crack across shoulder to lapel – EMDS
• Reverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Harold Linnen
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References