1945 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-023

Description

Completing the surveyed range of 1945 Philadelphia doubled die obverses in this batch, Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-023 stands near the upper end of the documented WDDO sequence for this date. Twenty-three or more distinct hub doubling varieties on a single year and mintmark speaks to both the enormous production volume and the dedication of researchers who have examined this issue for decades. Shell-case brass planchets of 95% copper and 5% zinc, from recycled military cartridge cases, were the standard cent alloy from 1944 through 1946, bridging wartime steel cents and the return to standard bronze in 1947. Each WDDO number represents a unique die that received its hub impression with a distinctive misalignment — no two doubled dies are identical even when they share the same class. For the advanced collector, assembling a complete set of 1945 WDDO varieties combines numismatic knowledge with patient searching. The year itself holds profound significance: the Allied victory ended the most devastating conflict in history, and these cents, struck from the remnants of that war's ammunition, carry a quiet material testimony to the era.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-023

External References