1942 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-019

Description

Documented as Wexler Variety ID 1942 1¢ WDDO-019, this Philadelphia Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent variety captures another hub doubling event from the bronze alloy's final production year. Nineteen or more doubled die obverse varieties from the 1942 cent series illustrate a fundamental principle of die variety numismatics: the number of varieties discovered from any given date is roughly proportional to the number of dies used and the intensity of collector scrutiny. The 1942 cent, with its 657-million-piece mintage and its status as the last bronze issue, has attracted both factors in abundance. Each WDDO variety from this year represents a separate moment in the die manufacturing process when the hub and die failed to align perfectly, and the resulting coins preserve that moment in metal. For collectors and researchers alike, WDDO-019 is a data point in a larger study of Mint die production methods during the critical early 1940s, when wartime demands were beginning to transform every aspect of government operations.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1942 1¢ WDDO-019
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References