1944-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-013

Description

Cross-referenced as Coppercoins 1944S-1DO-009, this San Francisco Wheat cent attributed by the Wexler Team presents an extra eyelid positioned southeast of Lincoln's main eyelid, a diagnostic hallmark shared by several doubled die obverses across the Wheat cent series but distinguished here by its directional orientation. The obverse die markers include a die gouge appearing as a dot to the left of the bottom of the numeral 1 in the date, a short diagonal die gouge to the left of the upper portion of the same 1, and circular die scratches near the rim below the base of Lincoln's bust and above the letters WE TRUST. These circular scratches suggest rotational contact during die finishing, providing a distinctive pattern not easily confused with linear manufacturing marks. The reverse carries no noted die markers, concentrating all attribution evidence on the obverse die. The 1944-S Wheat cent had a mintage of 282.76 million pieces, produced during a period when the San Francisco Mint operated at high capacity for the war effort. The Coppercoins cross-reference as 1944S-1DO-009 confirms independent cataloging by that reference, providing dual-source verification. The southeast displacement of the extra eyelid, combined with the dot die gouge near the 1 and the circular scratches below the bust, creates a triple-point authentication framework unique to WDDO-013.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Karen Peterson Cross References: Coppercoins: 1944S-1DO-009
• Coppercoins: 1944S-1DO-009; Wexler Variety ID: 1944-S 1¢ WDDO-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References