1934-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as WDDR-001 on the 1934-D Lincoln Wheat Cent and cross-referenced as CONECA 1-R-VI and Coppercoins 1934D-1DR-001, this doubled die reverse exhibits very strong extra thickness on both wheat ears and stems, the top of the letters in ONE, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the separator dots. The Class VI designation indicates distorted die doubling that produces uniform element thickening rather than directional displacement, arising from dimensional changes in the die metal between hubbing impressions. No significant obverse die markers were noted. Reverse markers include two parallel die scratches running NNW to SSE between the S of PLURIBUS and the dot, and a die scratch running northeast from the center right side of the A in STATES. The three-way cross-referencing across CONECA, Coppercoins, and Wexler databases confirms thorough independent documentation. The 1934-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm. The 1934-D saw a mintage of approximately 28.4 million pieces, reflecting the continued economic constraints of the Great Depression even as the country began its recovery under the New Deal. The description "very strong" applied to the thickness increases on the wheat ears and stems suggests this is among the more visually prominent Class VI doubled dies in the Wheat Cent series, where the botanical wheat stalk design provides fine parallel line elements that amplify thickness changes into clearly detectable thickening visible under moderate magnification. As WDDR-001, this holds the primary catalog position for Denver doubled die reverses in 1934.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Russ LeBeau (Upgraded by Joseph Koelling) Cross References: CONECA: 1-R-VI, Coppercoins: 1934D-1DR-001
• CONECA: 1-R-VI, Coppercoins: 1934D-1DR-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1934-D 1¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References