1947-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista under UVC-1761 and DMR-012, this 1947 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent exhibits strong extra thickness on LIBERTY with light extra thickness on IN GOD WE, indicating the obverse hub was impressed into the working die with a slight offset between impressions. The die progressed through three documented stages: Stage A in early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B in mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C in late die state characterized by a die gouge at the bottom and just to the right of the ear lobe resembling a crescent earring, with the reverse also showing late die state characteristics. The mintmark is classified as MMS-004, the trumpet tail style where the S mintmark's lower terminal curves outward, a diagnostic detail that helps distinguish this die pair from others in the 1947-S production. San Francisco struck approximately 99.0 million Lincoln Cents in 1947, a post-war production volume that reflected the return to normal economic activity after World War II. The strong extra thickness on LIBERTY — where secondary serifs and letter outlines appear adjacent to the primary design — indicates sufficient hub displacement to be visible under low magnification, making this a more readily identifiable doubled die than many subtle varieties. The crescent-shaped die gouge near the ear lobe in the die's later stages provides an additional progressive marker for collectors who may encounter this variety at different points in the die's working life.

Die Markers

• UVC-1761
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Die gouge at bottom and just to the Right of the ear lobe resembling a crescent earring – LDS
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

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

External References