1943-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

An extra eyelid below Lincoln's normal eyelid is the primary identifying feature of this 1943-S doubled die obverse — a subtle but reliable marker visible under low magnification. The 1943 Lincoln cent was struck in zinc-coated steel, a wartime substitution conserving copper for military use. Cross-references: Coppercoins 1943S-1DO-005; Wexler Variety ID 1943-S 1¢ WDDO-005. Obverse die markers: a die chip in the upper outer part of the crosslet of the 4; a die gouge under the bust near the rim; die scratches running NNE over the TY of LIBERTY. Reverse markers include die damage to the west and south of the O in ONE and additional markers confirming this die pair. San Francisco struck just under 192 million steel cents in 1943. The bright reflective steel surface can obscure subtle doubling under certain lighting, so collectors should examine the eyelid area under raking light and confirm all die markers — particularly the crosslet chip — before attributing specimens as WDDO-005. Two die cracks run southeast from the rim to the upper part of the left wheat. A die crack runs NNE from the rim to the lower left wheat. A die crack runs NNW from the rim to the lower part of the right wheat.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: Coppercoins: 1943S-1DO-005
• Coppercoins: 1943S-1DO-005; Wexler Variety ID: 1943-S 1¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References