1909 VDDR VDDR-038

Description

Light spread on TE of UNITED, F of OF, TA of STATES, and M of AMERICA distinguishes this thirty-eighth doubled die reverse for the 1909 Lincoln Wheat Cent, sharing the same affected letters as VDDR-039 but originating from a different die with distinct die markers and reverse die variant. Stage A documentation notes die scratches running North-South through the N of CENT in Early Die State, with the obverse also in EDS. Stages B and C remain unconfirmed. The reverse die variant is identified as RDV-002 (Deep cut N, V.D.B.) or possibly RDV-001 (Shallow cut N, V.D.B.), meaning this die retains Victor David Brenner's initials on the reverse — unlike VDDR-039, which uses the post-removal RDV-003/004 dies. This distinction is critically important: the VDB reverse dies represent the earliest Lincoln Cents struck, produced only during the first few days of August 1909 before the Mint halted production to remove Brenner's initials following public criticism. Cataloged by VarietyVista with UVC and DMR codes still pending final assignment, VDDR-038 belongs to the rarefied subset of doubled die varieties that also carry the VDB reverse, making it doubly significant. The pattern of affected letters — portions of UNITED, OF, STATES, and AMERICA — suggests a consistent spread direction across the reverse inscriptions, indicative of a single-axis displacement during hubbing.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-0??
• Stage A:
• Die scratches North-South through N of CENT – EDS
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kathy Hofmann
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References