1943 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-017

Description

Seventeenth in the expanding catalog of 1943 DDO varieties, WDDO-017 continues the pattern of prolific hub doubling that characterizes the zinc-coated steel cent year. Philadelphia's introduction of steel planchets — a composition never before or since used for regular-issue U.S. cents — required experimental adjustments throughout the production chain, from blank preparation through final striking. The Wexler Team cataloged this variety as 1943 1¢ WDDO-017, without supplementary die markers or parallel cross-references in other attribution systems. Each of the 1943 DDO varieties represents an independent hubbing event on a distinct working die, meaning WDDO-017's doubling characteristics — spread direction, affected elements, and magnitude — differ from every other entry in the series. Detection on the distinctively hard, gray-surfaced steel planchets can present unique challenges, as the metal's reflective quality under certain lighting conditions can create optical effects that mimic or obscure genuine hub doubling.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1943 1¢ WDDO-017
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References