1944-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-024

Description

Twenty-four documented doubled die obverse varieties for the 1944-D Lincoln cent reflect the staggering scale of Denver's wartime cent production — 430,578,000 pieces struck on recycled shell-case copper planchets. WDDO-024, cataloged by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1944-D 1¢ WDDO-024, was identified well after the initial wave of 1944-D DDO discoveries, positioning it among the more recently documented varieties for this prolific wartime issue. The Denver facility's cent output in 1944 was the highest of any mint for that year and among the highest annual totals in wheat cent history, demanding an enormous inventory of working dies and proportionally increasing the statistical likelihood of hub misalignment during die preparation. Hub doubling on WDDO-024 affects obverse design elements — the inscriptions, date, and portrait — with spread characteristics specific to this particular die that distinguish it from the twenty-three preceding DDO entries. The shell-case copper alloy used for 1944 cents produces a distinctive warm reddish tonality that develops differently from standard brass, and this difference in surface chemistry affects how doubling features photograph and how they appear under various lighting conditions. Collectors who specialize in 1944-D wheat cent varieties have a broad field to work through, with WDDO-024 representing one of the later catalog entries available for attribution.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1944-D 1¢ WDDO-024
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References