1957-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista under UVC-1918 and DMR-025, this 1957-D Lincoln Wheat Cent displays a medium spread on the eyelid to the south with light spread on the outside lower right B of LIBERTY and inside the upper 9 of the date — a multi-element doubling pattern where different design features show varying degrees of hub displacement based on their position relative to the misalignment vector. The southward eyelid spread is the primary diagnostic, as Lincoln's eyelid provides fine detail where even moderate displacement produces clearly visible doubling. Die state documentation shows Stage A with the obverse in early die state and numerous northwest-southeast die scratches on the reverse at EDS, Stage B at mid-die-state remaining unconfirmed, and Stage C at late die state also unconfirmed. The die scratches on the reverse in Stage A provide early-state attribution markers, though only the obverse is confirmed at EDS while both mid and late states remain undocumented. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 1957 in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc at 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. The 1957-D is the penultimate year of Denver Mint wheat cent production, with 1958 being the final year. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait pairs with the wheat ears reverse. The combination of medium eyelid doubling with light spread on both LIBERTY and the date creates three separate attribution zones across the obverse, each showing different intensities of the same hub displacement event — the eyelid being most pronounced, with the B of LIBERTY and the 9 showing subtler effects of the same misalignment.

Die Markers

• UVC-1918
• DMR-025
• Stage A:
• Obverse is EDS
• Numerous Northwest-Southeast die scratches on Reverse – EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill McMurray
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References