1935 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Showing extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the separator dots, and the wheat ears and stems, the 1935 Lincoln wheat cent DDR-004 documents hub displacement across the central elements of Victor David Brenner's reverse design. Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-3355 and DMR-010, three die stages reveal a die that reached a notably deteriorated final condition. Stage A represents early die state, unconfirmed. Stage B advances to mid-die state, also unconfirmed. Stage C is where this die becomes especially interesting: the reverse reaches late die state with a die crack developing on Lincoln's lapel and another die crack forming over V.D.B., the designer's initials at the base of the reverse. The V.D.B. initials, restored to the wheat cent reverse in 1918 after their controversial removal following the 1909 debut, occupy a small area between the wheat stems where die cracks frequently develop as the die fatigues. The lapel crack on the obverse provides a complementary late-stage marker. Wheat cent doubled die reverses from the 1930s are sought by collectors who appreciate how the simple symmetry of the paired wheat stalks and central legends amplifies even moderate hub displacement.

Die Markers

• UVC-3355
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Reverse is LDS
• Die crack on lapel – LDS
• Die crack over V.D.B.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Antenucci
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References