1945-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Examining doubled die varieties on shell case alloy cents presents both advantages and challenges for the collector. The brass-like surface of the 1944-1945 composition tends to develop a warm golden patina that can enhance contrast around raised design elements, sometimes making subtle doubling easier to detect than on darker bronze specimens. Conversely, heavily circulated examples may develop a muted, brassy wear pattern that obscures fine detail. WDDO-003 from the 1945-S issue is the third doubled die obverse documented for San Francisco's final wartime cent production. The die manufacturing process that creates doubled dies involves pressing a hardened hub into a softened die blank multiple times; if the alignment shifts between impressions, the resulting die carries overlapping design elements that transfer to every coin it strikes. This mechanical origin distinguishes hub doubling from strike doubling, which is caused by die bounce or loose die fit and produces flat, shelf-like displacement. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1945-S 1¢ WDDO-003.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-S 1¢ WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References