1945 (S) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Third doubled die reverse documented for the 1945 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, WDDR-003 dates from the final months of World War II when all three U.S. Mints were transitioning back toward normal peacetime operations. San Francisco struck cents using the recycled brass shell casing composition throughout 1944 and 1945, and the alloy continued through 1946 before standard bronze returned in 1947. The hubbing process that created doubled die varieties remained consistent regardless of composition — the working hub had to impress each working die through multiple passes, and any shift between passes created a die with doubled design elements. Three DDRs for the 1945-S date reflects the San Francisco facility's meaningful contribution to wartime cent production, even as total output was smaller than Philadelphia or Denver. The fine details of the Wheat Cent reverse — the parallel lines within each wheat ear, the delicate serifs on ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA — provide multiple attribution points where hub doubling can be confirmed under magnification. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1945-S 1¢ WDDR-003, this variety is part of the closing chapter of wartime cent production before peacetime operations fully resumed in 1946.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-S 1¢ WDDR-003

External References