1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Primary doubled die obverse for the 1944 Lincoln wheat cent, WDDO-001 holds the lead position in the Wexler Team's DDO census for this date, designated 1944 1¢ WDDO-001 without additional cross-references in CONECA or Fivaz-Stanton. As the first-cataloged DDO for 1944, WDDO-001 typically represents the most prominent or earliest-discovered hub doubling for the date, though catalog numbering does not always correlate directly with doubling strength. The 1944 Philadelphia cent holds historical significance as the first year of shell-case alloy planchets following the 1943 steel cent experiment. Recycled brass from military cartridge cases provided the copper and zinc for the 1944-1945 cent composition (approximately 95% copper, 5% zinc), and these planchets had a slightly different metallurgical profile than the pre-war bronze alloy. Such enormous production demanded hundreds of working die pairs, and WDDO-001 documents a hub misalignment event on one of those obverse dies. As the premier DDO listing for the date, WDDO-001 anchors the 1944 DDO collection and often serves as the first variety that collectors seek when building their 1944 cent variety set.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1944 1¢ WDDO-001

External References