1945 (S) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Twelve doubled die obverses cataloged for the 1945-S cent illustrate a principle familiar to variety collectors: high-mintage dates tend to yield more documented die varieties simply because more working dies were manufactured. With 181,770,000 cents to produce, San Francisco required a large die inventory, and each die underwent the hubbing process where misalignment could occur. WDDO-012 closes the current documented DDO catalog for the 1945-S issue, struck in the shell case alloy, recycled from spent military brass casings, that was used for American cents from 1944 through 1946. Bronze, 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc, returned to all three Mint facilities in 1947. These 1945-S shell case cents belong to an unusual compositional chapter in Lincoln Cent history, and their die varieties are part of a broader wartime numismatic record that collectors continue to study and expand. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1945-S 1¢ WDDO-012.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-S 1¢ WDDO-012

External References