1909 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-005

Description

Inaugural year of the Lincoln Wheat Cent, 1909 DDR-005 displays medium extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and both wheat ears paired with strong extra thickness on both wheat stems and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — a broad and visually compelling spread across multiple reverse design elements. Die markers trace three stages: UVC-1217, DMR-012. Stage A remains in unconfirmed Early Die State. Stage B shows a die crack developing from the rim through the upper right wheat lines at Mid-Die State, with the obverse also at MDS — a confirmed die state providing a solid attribution checkpoint. Stage C reaches unconfirmed Late Die State. A critical research note identifies this reverse as RDV-003 (No V.D.B.), meaning it belongs to the reverse die variety produced after Victor David Brenner's initials were removed partway through the 1909 production run following public controversy over their prominence. The V.D.B. initials appeared on the earliest 1909 cents before being deleted, and DDR-005's assignment to the No V.D.B. reverse variant places it in the later portion of the inaugural year's production. Cataloged by VarietyVista, this variety connects hub doubling documentation with the famous V.D.B. controversy that makes 1909 one of the most historically significant dates in the Lincoln Cent series.

Die Markers

• UVC-1217
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack from rim through upper Right wheat lines – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Bruggeman
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References