1941-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1941-S 1-cent WDDR-004 with no other known cross-references, this fourth doubled die reverse for the 1941 San Francisco-mint Lincoln Wheat Cent shows extra thickness on both wheat ears, E PLURIBUS UNUM (abbreviated EPU), and the decorative dots that flank the wheat stalks. The obverse die paired with this reverse carries the Large S mintmark variety — a significant collateral attribution because the 1941-S is known in both Large S and Small S mintmark variants, and identifying the mintmark size narrows the die pairing possibilities. Die markers on the obverse include numerous die scratches running north-south above the first 1 in the date and additional scratches running south-southwest to north-northeast above the 9, with many other die scratches distributed across the obverse surface. The reverse carries die scratches running south-southwest to north-northeast throughout. The 1941-S cent was struck at the San Francisco Mint in bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc) at 3.11 grams and 19.05 mm diameter, one year before the composition changes necessitated by wartime metal conservation. The wheat ear doubling combined with the EPU inscription doubling indicates the hub displacement affected a broad swath of the reverse die face, and the Large S mintmark pairing adds a secondary dimension of attribution interest for collectors pursuing both mintmark and die varieties simultaneously.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler (upgraded by Brian Ribar) Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1941-S 1¢ WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References