1941 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-017

Description

Identified as Wexler Variety ID 1941 1¢ WDDO-017, this Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent represents a doubled die obverse variety from the most prolific cent production year of the pre-war period. The progression from WDDO-001 through WDDO-017 and beyond for a single date illustrates how variety research has evolved from a pursuit focused only on dramatic, eye-visible errors into a discipline that documents every confirmed hub doubling event regardless of magnitude. For the cherrypicker examining bags or rolls of 1941 cents, the practical question is always whether a candidate specimen matches one specific set of diagnostics or another. The date digits — particularly the 1, 9, 4, and 1 — often provide the clearest attribution evidence, as numerical characters with their defined geometry show displacement more distinctly than the organic curves of Lincoln's portrait. A loupe of at least 7x power is recommended as the starting point for examining potential WDDO-017 specimens, with higher magnification needed to confirm the match.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1941 1¢ WDDO-017

External References