1943-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

DDO-001 on the 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent is a landmark overdate variety: 1943/1942, cross-referenced FS-101 (19.5) — one of the most significant doubled die obverse attributions in the Lincoln cent series. The 1943 zinc-coated steel cent was struck over a 1942-dated hub, leaving the underlying 2 visible beneath the 3 in the date when examined under magnification. Doubling also spreads across the bowtie, Lincoln's profile, the eye, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY, making this a pervasive hub-doubling event rather than a localized digit issue. Two obverse die pairings are documented: UVC-1599 and DMR-010 covering Stages A–B, and UVC-1600 and DMR-011 covering Stages C–E — indicating that the variety spans multiple die states across two separate die marriages. The zinc-coated steel planchet composition, adopted in 1943 due to wartime copper requirements, makes surface preservation critical for authentication, as post-mint corrosion can obscure fine doubling details. The FS-101 (19.5) designation establishes DDO-001 as a Fivaz-Stanton top-100 variety with an assigned rarity value, making it among the most sought-after attributions in the 1943-S Lincoln cent population.

Die Markers

• UVC-1599
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse is EDS
• Die crack from lower Right wheat to rim – EDS
• UVC-1600
• DMR-011
• Stage C:
• Die scratches North-South above date – MDS
• Die crack Southeast on lapel
• Reverse die changed – EDS
• Stage D:
• Obverse is LMDS
• Die crack from first U of PLURIBUS to O of ONE – EMDS
• Stage E:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by David Lindahl
• FS-101
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References