2005 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-018

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die marker codes UVC-3035 and DMR-020, DDR-018 on the 2005 Lincoln Memorial Cent presents a strong spread to the Northeast, manifesting as an extra column number 6 — the column spanning from the elbow to the hand of the seated Lincoln statue — and an extra set of knees positioned above and between the statue's actual knees within Frank Gasparro's Memorial reverse design. The northeast spread direction indicates the secondary hub impression was displaced both upward and to the right relative to the first impression, creating ghost images of these architectural and sculptural elements offset in that direction. Three documented die stages trace the progressive life of this die pair: Stage A captures both obverse and reverse in Early Die State, before significant wear or cracking has developed. Stage B transitions to Mid Die State (unconfirmed), where additional die fatigue may begin to appear. Stage C reaches Late Die State (unconfirmed), where die deterioration would potentially alter the appearance of the doubling and add progressive die cracks or chips. The visibility of extra columns and doubled knees on the Lincoln Memorial reverse makes this a diagnostically accessible variety — the Memorial's architectural detail provides enough parallel lines and geometric regularity that even modest hub displacement generates clearly identifiable secondary impressions. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-plated zinc composition at 2.5 grams, the 2005 Lincoln Memorial Cent was part of the final years of the Memorial reverse before the 2009 Bicentennial redesign. Examination at 7x to 10x magnification of the column area and the seated statue's knees will reveal the characteristic northeast spread pattern.

Die Markers

• UVC-3035
• DMR-020
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References