1958 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as the primary doubled die reverse for the 1958 Proof Lincoln Wheat Cent, DDR-001 displays medium spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM and both wheat ears, with the left wheat ear being totally doubled — a striking characteristic where the entire device shows a complete secondary image offset from the primary impression. The "Proof" designation in the comments confirms this variety exists exclusively on proof specimens, struck at the Philadelphia Mint using polished dies and planchets. Technical data includes UVC-1933 and DMR-005, with three documented die stages: Stage A in Early Die State featuring a diagnostic die gouge on the lower left wheat at the stem junction, Stage B with both reverse and obverse progressing to Mid Die State, and Stage C reaching Late Die State. The 1958 proof cent occupies an extraordinary position in Lincoln Cent history — it was the final proof Wheat Cent ever produced, as Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial reverse replaced Victor David Brenner's wheat ears design beginning in 1959. This terminal-year status makes any variety on the 1958 proof cent inherently significant to collectors who specialize in last-of-type material. The complete doubling of the left wheat ear makes DDR-001 one of the more visually dramatic doubled die varieties in the late Wheat Cent series, as the secondary image creates a noticeably wider and more prominent wheat ear that is detectable even under moderate magnification. As the -001 designation confirms, this is the most important doubled die reverse for the date, serving as the benchmark variety for 1958 proof cent collectors.

Die Markers

• UVC-1933
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• Die gouge on lower Left wheat at stem junction – EDS
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Hugh T. Campbell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References