1944-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-005
Error
Description
Fifth doubled die reverse for the 1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent, this variety shows light extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and both wheat ears — a distribution affecting the motto and the signature design elements of Victor David Brenner's reverse. Tracked under UVC-1655 and DMR-023 in the VarietyVista system, the die state documentation reveals: Stage A remains unconfirmed, Stage B shows both the reverse and obverse in mid-die-state, and Stage C is unconfirmed. A significant attribution detail emerges in the comments: the mintmark is listed as MMS-005, identified by its straight serif style, and is positioned high and to the left of center — mintmark placement data that helps fingerprint this specific obverse die. The 1944-S Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at San Francisco during the height of World War II, using the distinctive shell case alloy (brass recovered from spent military cartridge casings) that replaced the standard bronze composition for 1944-1946 cent production. This wartime alloy — composed of recycled copper, zinc, and tin from munitions — gives 1944-S cents a slightly different color and surface texture compared to prewar bronze issues, and the interaction between this alloy and die steel may have influenced die wear patterns. San Francisco's 1944 cent production was substantial as the facility contributed to meeting wartime coinage demands. Five doubled die reverses from the 1944-S reflects sustained research attention on wartime Wheat Cents, where the unique composition adds historical interest to die variety attribution. The high-and-left mintmark position of MMS-005 with straight serifs provides collectors with a quick preliminary screening tool before examining the reverse for the subtle extra thickness characteristic of this DDR.
Die Markers
- UVC-1655
- DMR-023
- Stage A:
- EDS (unconfirmed)
- Stage B:
- Reverse and Obverse are MDS
- Stage C:
- LDS (unconfirmed)
Attribution History
- Discovered by Frank Baumann
- Expert attribution by VarietyVista
External References
Additional Notes
Mintmark is LISTED as MMS-005 (straight serifs) and is high and to the Left of center.
Community & Reference
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