1944-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1944-D 1¢ WDDO-001, this prominent doubled die obverse variety appears on a 1944-D Lincoln Wheat cent struck at the Denver Mint. The 1944 cent was produced in the shell case copper composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc, introduced after the 1943 zinc-coated steel cents proved unsatisfactory, using recycled brass shell casings from military munitions. The coin weighs 3.11 grams with a 19 mm diameter and a plain edge. Denver struck 430,578,000 cents in 1944, a massive wartime production figure reflecting the intense demand for circulating coinage during World War II. The doubling on WDDO-001 is classified as very strong Class VI (distended hub), where the hub expanded under pressure, producing extra thickness visible on the date, the letters of LIBERTY, and the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST. The strength of this variety places it among the more prominent doubled die obverses in the wartime Lincoln cent series, and it has earned recognition across multiple attribution services. Cross-referenced as CONECA 1-O-VI, Cherrypickers FS-01-1944D-101, and Coppercoins 1944D-1DO-001, the inclusion in the Cherrypickers guide with an FS (Fivaz-Stanton) number indicates this variety is considered significant enough for mainstream collector attention beyond the specialist doubled die community. Obverse die markers include a die gouge to the right of the eyebrow and a die clash line running from the underside of the chin to the bowtie, indicating the obverse and reverse dies clashed at some point during this die's service life. No reverse die markers have been noted. Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait, with its detailed hair, beard, and coat features, provides ample topography for Class VI hub distension to manifest, and the 1944-D WDDO-001 is considered a desirable variety for collectors building a comprehensive doubled die Lincoln cent collection.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: CONECA: 1-O-VI, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1944D-101, Coppercoins: 1944D-1DO-001
• CONECA: 1-O-VI, Cherrypickers: FS-01-1944D-101, Coppercoins: 1944D-1DO-001; Wexler Variety ID: 1944-D 1¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References