1942-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001
Error
Description
Cataloged by VarietyVista with die identifiers UVC-1544 and DMR-019, this 1942-S Lincoln Wheat Cent DDR-001 exhibits medium extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, both wheat ears and stems, and RICA of AMERICA — a broad doubling pattern that affects multiple reverse design elements, indicating a hub displacement of sufficient magnitude to produce visible secondary images across much of the reverse die face. Three die stages document progressive changes: Stage A at early die state shows light die scratches running North-South on the reverse with the obverse also in EDS; Stage B at mid-die-state shows most die scratches worn away with the obverse in MDS — documenting how the original surface scratches from die manufacturing were gradually effaced by repeated striking; and Stage C at late die state remains unconfirmed. The progressive wear of die scratches from Stage A to Stage B provides a useful dating mechanism for specimens, as the presence or absence of N/S reverse scratches indicates whether the coin was struck early or later in the die's service life. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1942 in the standard bronze composition of 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.05 mm — the last year of this composition before the wartime switch to zinc-coated steel in 1943. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse Lincoln portrait, and the wheat ears reverse served from 1909 through 1958. The DDR-001 catalog number designates this as the primary documented doubled die reverse for the 1942-S date, suggesting it was either the first discovered or the most prominent doubled die reverse variety known for this mint-date combination.
Die Markers
- UVC-1544
- DMR-019
- Stage A:
- Light die scratches North-South on Reverse – EDS
- Obverse is EDS
- Stage B:
- Most die scratches worn away – MDS
- Obverse is MDS
- Stage C:
- LDS (unconfirmed)
Attribution History
- Discovered by Unknown
- Expert attribution by VarietyVista
External References
Additional Notes
Die Stages and Markers UVC-1544 DMR-019 Stage A: Light die scratches North-South on Reverse – EDS Obverse is EDS Stage B: Most die scratches worn away – MDS Obverse is MDS Stage C: LDS (unconfirmed)
Community & Reference
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