1944-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Light spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM and both upper wheat ears identifies the second doubled die reverse for the 1944 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, struck during the wartime period when cents were produced from recycled brass shell casings rather than standard bronze. Attributed by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-1653 and DMR-021, this variety is documented across three die stages: Stage A is Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B shows both reverse and obverse at Mid Die State, and Stage C is Late Die State (unconfirmed). The mintmark is listed as MMS-005 with straight serifs, a specific mintmark style classification that aids in differentiating die pairs from a production year that saw San Francisco strike over 282 million cents. VarietyVista notes that a specimen is needed for updated color photographs and die stage confirmation, indicating this remains a variety where documentation is still being refined. The 1944-S cent's distinctive shell-casing composition gives it a subtly different coloration than pre-war cents, and the light spread on the wheat ears — a design element that would be replaced by the Lincoln Memorial in 1959 — requires careful examination to distinguish from strike characteristics on the relatively shallow wheat ear design elements.

Die Markers

• UVC-1653
• DMR-021
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by William McMurray
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References