1943 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-024

Description

The confusion between 1943 steel cents and dimes in everyday commerce was a practical problem that influenced the Mint's decision to abandon the steel composition after just one year. Both coins shared a similar silvery color and were close enough in diameter — 19mm for the cent versus 17.9mm for the dime — that vending machines and the public struggled to tell them apart. This historical footnote adds context to WDDO-024, the twenty-fourth doubled die obverse from the 1943-D issue, as it represents a coin from an experiment the government was eager to conclude. Doubled die obverses on steel cents are detected using the same diagnostic methods applied to any Lincoln Cent: examining the inscriptions and portrait details for evidence of a secondary hub impression offset from the primary design. The Wexler Team's catalog of 1943-D varieties continues to grow as attributors discover additional dies. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1943-D 1¢ WDDO-024.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1943-D 1¢ WDDO-024

External References