1943 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-008

Description

Documented on the wartime steel Lincoln cent, the 1943 DDO-008 shows light spread to the northwest manifesting as an extra eyelid on Lincoln's portrait, an unusual and visually distinctive form of hub doubling. The 1943 cent was struck on zinc-coated steel planchets because copper was diverted to the war effort. Cataloged as UVC-1553 DMR-009, this variety has a remarkably complex die history spanning multiple stages with documented die marriages. Stage A in early die state remains unconfirmed. Stage B at mid-die-state shows a die crack across the shoulder to the rim west of V.D.B. and another across the lower lapel, with the reverse identified as DDR-008. Stage C at late die state exhibits a small die chip in the lower R of LIBERTY and a die crack connecting lower NUM of UNUM, with the reverse identified as CUD-001. The progression from Stage B's marriage with DDR-008 to Stage C's pairing with a cud-bearing reverse documents a fascinating sequence where the obverse die outlived multiple reverse counterparts through its working life at the Philadelphia Mint.

Die Markers

• UVC-1553
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack across shoulder to rim West of V. D. B. – MDS
• Die crack across lower lapel
• Reverse is LISTED as DDR-008 – MDS
• Stage C:
• Small die chip in lower R of LIBERTY – LDS
• Die crack connects lower NUM of UNUM – LDS
• Reverse is LISTED as CUD-001

Attribution History

• Discovered by Michael L. Ellis
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References