1982 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Third in the VarietyVista doubled die obverse sequence for the 1982 Philadelphia cent, DDO-003 shows medium extra thickness on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST — similar in character to DDO-002 but appearing on the copper (bronze) composition rather than zinc. Die markers UVC-3360 and DMR-009 identify this specific die marriage, providing the authentication data necessary to distinguish DDO-003 from the two preceding entries. The copper composition places this coin before the mid-1982 changeover, when Philadelphia was still striking cents from the 95% copper, 5% zinc alloy that had been standard since 1962. At 3.1 grams, these bronze cents are perceptibly heavier than the 2.5-gram zinc cents that would follow — a weight difference that experienced collectors can detect by hand and that provides a quick preliminary sorting method before more precise composition testing. The Large Date punch style further confirms this variety's position within the complex 1982 production matrix. Three distinct doubled die obverse varieties cataloged for the 1982 Philadelphia cent across both compositions demonstrates the elevated die production activity that accompanied this transition year, when new dies were being prepared for both the outgoing and incoming planchet specifications simultaneously.

Die Markers

• UVC-3360; DMR-009

External References