1940 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-008

Description

VarietyVista cataloged this 1940 Lincoln Wheat cent as DDR-008, a doubled die reverse displaying light extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM and both wheat ears. The coin weighs 3.1 grams, measures 19 mm in diameter, and is composed of 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc, struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Tracked under Universal Variety Code UVC-1448 and Die Marker Reference DMR-013, the variety progresses through three documented die states: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at early-to-mid die state where a die gouge develops through the L and lower S of PLURIBUS along with the obverse reaching early-to-mid state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The die gouge through PLURIBUS at Stage B serves as both a die state marker and an authentication aid, as this distinctive gouge path through two separated letters is unlikely to be replicated on any other die. The "light extra thickness" on the wheat ears affects the reverse's most prominent design elements, as the two wheat stalks flanking the denomination ONE CENT constitute the signature visual feature of the wheat reverse designed by Victor David Brenner. The 1940 date falls during the Great Depression era when mintages had begun recovering from their 1930s lows, with Philadelphia producing approximately 586 million cents. This variety belongs to the Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909-1958 series, and the combination of E PLURIBUS UNUM and wheat ear doubling provides multiple areas for collectors to examine when cherry-picking through Depression-era cent accumulations.

Die Markers

• UVC-1448
• DMR-013
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge through L and lower S of PLURIBUS – EMDS
• Obverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References