1945 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-015

Description

Reaching fifteen documented DDO varieties underscores just how productive the 1945-D date has been for die variety researchers. WDDO-015, carrying Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-015, extends the already extensive catalog of hub doubling events on Denver-mint wartime Lincoln cents. Struck on shell-case copper alloy planchets during the final months of World War II, the 1945-D cent was produced in quantities of 266,268,000, each requiring obverse dies that were individually hubbed at the Philadelphia die shop before shipment to Colorado. The wartime production environment — characterized by high-speed output, extended shifts, and the urgency of maintaining circulating coin supply — created conditions where die preparation quality control was subordinated to volume. WDDO-015, at the tail end of the documented catalog, likely exhibits more subtle hub doubling than the early-numbered entries, demanding careful examination and possibly higher-power magnification to confirm. The shell-case alloy's somewhat softer copper composition can influence how doubling appears on struck coins: the metal's flow characteristics during striking sometimes fill in fine doubling features that would remain visible on harder brass compositions. Collectors should use at least 10x magnification and experiment with lighting angles when examining potential WDDO-015 candidates to compensate for these metallurgical differences.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-015

External References