1943-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-005

Description

Cataloged as UVC-3379, DMR-019, this 1943 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck on zinc-coated steel planchets as part of the wartime metal conservation program. DDR-005 shows extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots between words, both wheat ears and stems, and the upper edges of ONE. Stage A is documented with the reverse in Early Die State accompanied by a die crack across the shoulder to the rim at K-7 in Early to Mid Die State, plus a die crack running down the lapel. Stage B is Mid Die State (unconfirmed), and Stage C is Late Die State (unconfirmed). San Francisco produced approximately 191 million steel cents in 1943, the lowest output among the three operating mints. The extra thickness on the lettering and wheat ear details represents a subtle but consistent form of hub doubling where the secondary impression closely overlaps the primary design. The shoulder-to-rim die crack at K-7 on Stage A specimens provides an excellent secondary diagnostic for confirming this variety. Steel cents from San Francisco are already sought after for their lower relative mintage, and DDR-005 adds die variety appeal to the wartime issue.

Die Markers

• UVC-3379
• DMR-019
• Stage A:
• Reverse is EDS
• Die crack across shoulder to rim at K-7 – EMDS
• Die crack down lapel
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Daniel Griffin
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References