1945 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Tracked under die markers UVC-1662 and DMR-003, the 1945 Philadelphia Lincoln Wheat Cent DDO-002 shows light extra thickness on LIBERTY and the date — a distributed obverse doubling across two of the most closely examined areas on Lincoln cents. Four die stages are documented, an unusually complete progression that includes the rarely recorded Very Late Die State. Stage A is Early Die State, currently unconfirmed. Stage B is Middle Die State, unconfirmed. Stage C shows both obverse and reverse in Late Die State condition. Stage D advances to a Very Late Die State (VLDS) on both sides — a terminal stage reflecting sustained production past the point where most dies are retired. The VLDS designation is uncommon in VarietyVista die stage documentation, making Stage D examples of DDO-002 particularly collectible as representatives of extreme die fatigue. The 1945 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at Philadelphia during the final months of World War II in the shell casing copper alloy, without a mintmark.

Die Markers

• UVC-1662
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS
• Stage D:
• Obverse and Reverse are VLDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References