1944-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Third in the obverse doubled die census for the 1944-S Lincoln wheat cent, DDO-003 displays light spread in a northeast direction on Lincoln's eyelid — a diagnostic that exemplifies how Victor David Brenner's carefully sculpted facial features on the Lincoln cent obverse reveal even minimal hub displacement. VarietyVista cataloged this variety under UVC-0182 and DMR-007, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where both obverse and reverse surfaces show mid die state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The source data includes a significant combination variety notation: the obverse is listed as RPM-005 and MMS-006 (ball serif), indicating this single working die carries three independently attributable characteristics — the doubled die obverse, a repunched mintmark (RPM-005), and a misplaced mintmark with a ball serif designation (MMS-006). San Francisco struck approximately 282.8 million cents in 1944, producing them on recycled brass shell casing planchets during the wartime steel and copper conservation period — a composition change that gives 1944-S cents their distinctive golden-brass color. Triple combination varieties — DDO plus RPM plus MMS on one die — are uncommon and highly prized by attribution specialists because they document a die that experienced multiple preparation anomalies. The light northeast spread on the eyelid creates a subtle secondary line displaced up and to the right from the primary eyelid contour. The ball serif on the MMS-006 refers to a rounded terminal on the mintmark punch, providing an independent diagnostic. Collectors should examine the eye area at 10-15x magnification for the displaced eyelid, check the mintmark for repunching evidence, and verify the ball serif character of the S mintmark to confirm all three attributable features.

Die Markers

• UVC-0182
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References