1909 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Few Lincoln Cents carry greater historical weight than the 1909 VDB, the series' inaugural year. This obverse doubled die, cross-referenced as FS-1102 (12.1) and carrying attribution codes UVC-1212 and DMR-007, shows extra thickness on the date with some separation on the first 9. Five die stages are documented. Stage A: both sides in early die state. Stage B: die chip in upper B of LIBERTY, early-to-middle die state. Stage C: die chip fills the whole B of LIBERTY; die chip on lower R of LIBERTY; die clash at throat; reverse in middle die state. Stage D: die chip fills whole R of LIBERTY, late-middle die state. Stage E: obverse in late die state; reverse die clash has worn away. The reverse is RDV-001 — the V.D.B. reverse bearing Brenner's initials below the wheat stalks, which were removed later in 1909 following public controversy. This variety is cross-referenced as FS-1102. The 1909 VDB Lincoln Cent is among the most celebrated issues in American numismatics.

Die Markers

• UVC-1212
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Die chip in upper B of LIBERTY – EMDS
• Reverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• Die chip whole B of LIBERTY – MDS
• Die chip lower R of LIBERTY
• Die clash at throat
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage D:
• Die chip in whole R of LIBERTY – LMDS
• Reverse is LMDS
• Stage E:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die clash on Reverse has worn away – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Randy Miller
• FS-1102
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References