1944-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Third doubled die reverse documented for the 1944 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, WDDR-003 arrives at the midpoint of the initial S-mint DDR catalog for this wartime date. San Francisco's cent production during 1944 contributed to the national effort of maintaining adequate circulating coinage while the country's industrial base was devoted to war production. The recycled brass shell casing alloy used for all 1944 cents gave coins from all three mints a uniform composition, with the S mintmark being the distinguishing identifier for San Francisco production. Hub doubling on WDDR-003 represents the third documented instance where the working hub shifted between hubbing passes during the manufacture of a reverse die destined for the San Francisco facility, creating overlapping design elements that transferred to every cent struck by that die. The Wheat Cent reverse by Victor David Brenner features design elements — wheat ear stalks, central legends, and the E PLURIBUS UNUM motto — that are particularly sensitive to revealing minor hub displacement. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1944-S 1¢ WDDR-003, collectors working through the 1944-S DDR catalog should examine each specimen under consistent magnification and lighting to accurately assess spread direction and confirm attribution against reference images.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1944-S 1¢ WDDR-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References