1943-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

A strong northward spread producing an extra eyelid, inner ear, tie edge, and shifted digits 19 of the date marks this 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent as DDO-005 in the VarietyVista catalog, with die markers UVC-3476 and DMR-022. The 1943 cent was struck on zinc-coated steel planchets because copper was reserved for the war effort — a composition immediately distinguishable by a magnet — making doubled die varieties from this year especially collectible across two overlapping collector communities. Three die stages are documented. Stage A is early die state, unconfirmed. Stage B is early-mid die state, defined by a strong die clash at the throat and behind the neck on the obverse; the reverse also enters early-mid die state simultaneously. Stage C is late die state, unconfirmed. The northward spread is strongest on the extra eyelid — a clean secondary impression of the eyelid crease displaced upward — which is the most visually compelling diagnostic. Collectors should begin examination at the eye area, then move to the ear and tie edge to confirm spread direction and magnitude.

Die Markers

• UVC-3476
• DMR-022
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Strong die clash at throat and behind neck – EMDS
• Reverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References