1941 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-005

Description

Fifth in the documented sequence of doubled die reverses for the 1941 Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, WDDR-005 was produced when the working hub and working die were imperfectly registered during one of the multiple impressions required to fully sink the design into the die steel. This misregistration embedded a doubled image into the die, which then transferred to every cent struck before the die was retired. The 1941 production year preceded America's entry into World War II by just months, and the Philadelphia Mint was already ramping up operations in anticipation of wartime demand. Victor David Brenner's reverse design featuring two wheat ears flanking the legends ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA contains fine parallel lines and delicate serifs that readily reveal even minor doubling under magnification. Five DDRs cataloged for a single pre-war date demonstrates the systematic examination that variety specialists have applied to this heavily produced year. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1941 1¢ WDDR-005, this variety is part of a broader family of 1941 doubled dies that collectively document the die production conditions at Philadelphia during the lead-up to global conflict.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1941 1¢ WDDR-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References