1945 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-022

Description

With twenty-two doubled die obverses cataloged, the 1945-D cent demonstrates how high-volume wartime production multiplied opportunities for hub misalignment during die manufacturing. Each of Denver's working dies was sunk from a master hub, and any positional offset between successive impressions created a unique doubled die — a permanent feature transferred to every coin struck from that die. The shell case alloy used for 1945 cents differs from standard bronze in leaving out tin, a composition dictated by the availability of recycled military brass casings. This alloy behaves slightly differently under striking pressure, and collectors sometimes note that the flow lines and surface characteristics of shell case cents have a subtly different texture than their pre-war or postwar counterparts. WDDO-022 adds to the growing documentation of Denver Mint die production during the final months of World War II, a period when the Mint balanced massive circulating coinage demand with defense-related manufacturing. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-022.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-022

External References