2003 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-016

Description

Cataloged as DDR-016 for the 2003 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Memorial Cent, this doubled die reverse presents medium spread directed west, manifesting as an extra double of column number 7 from elbow to knee and hand to shin, slightly rotated counterclockwise, with a ghostly knee appearing between the statue's actual knees. The duplication at column 7 is characteristic of how hub doubling affects the finely engraved elements of Gasparro's reverse design. Attributed as UVC-3222 and DMR-019 in the VarietyVista system, Stage A is an early die state identified by diagonal die scrapes in the bay above Lincoln's head, paired with an early die state obverse. Stages B and C, representing mid-die and late die states, remain unconfirmed. Struck in copper-plated zinc, the 2003 cent was among the later Memorial reverse issues before the design's retirement in 2008. The westward spread creating a phantom column and extra knee provides a visually distinctive variety that collectors can identify with moderate magnification on the statue's lower body within the Memorial interior.

Die Markers

• UVC-3222
• DMR-019
• Stage A:
• Diagonal die scrapes in bay above Lincoln's head – EDS
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References