1942 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-023

Description

The jump from WDDO-021 to WDDO-023 in this series — Wexler Variety ID 1942 1¢ WDDO-023 — reflects the reality that variety catalogs are living documents where some numbers may be reserved, reassigned, or still under review. This Philadelphia Mint doubled die obverse belongs to the final year of bronze Lincoln Wheat Cent production, when the alloy that had served since 1909 was about to be retired in favor of zinc-coated steel. The Mint's decision to abandon copper for one-cent coinage in 1943 was driven by wartime material shortages, but in 1942 the traditional bronze alloy still flowed through the presses, producing coins with the characteristic warm luster that collectors associate with pre-war cents. For the die variety specialist, WDDO-023 contributes to a statistical portrait of hub doubling frequency: knowing that twenty-three or more distinct events occurred within a single year's production helps quantify the rate at which the hubbing process generated misalignments. Proper attribution requires matching the specific doubling fingerprint of this die against its catalog entry.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1942 1¢ WDDO-023
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References