1938-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Strong extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and the upper wheat ears defines DDR-001, the primary doubled die reverse for the 1938-S Lincoln Wheat Cent, catalogued UVC-1416 and DMR-007 across three documented die stages. Stage A is the early die state of the reverse; a die crack over V.D.B. appears in this stage and is described as a late die state marker — a data quirk preserved as documented. Stage B introduces a die crack from the upper right wheat stalk to the rim as a mid die state reverse marker, paired with a very late die state obverse. Stage C is a late die state unconfirmed. The 1938-S Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck in bronze — 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc — at the San Francisco Mint under Victor David Brenner's design. Strong EPU doubling is among the most collectible reverse doubled die forms in the Wheat Cent series, and DDR-001's three-stage progression documents this die across its full working life.

Die Markers

• UVC-1416
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• Reverse is EDS
• Die crack over V.D.B. – LDS
• Die crack across lower lapel
• Stage B:
• Die crack from upper Right wheat to rim – MDS
• Obverse is VLDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References