1946 (D) Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Presenting medium extra thickness on the date digits of the 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, DDO-004 carries VarietyVista codes UVC-1729 and DMR-025, with a complex three-stage progression revealing evolving die characteristics. Stage A remains unconfirmed at EDS. Stage B documents a die gouge over the first T of TRUST at MDS, with the reverse listed as DDR-001 in early-to-mid die state and a die gouge just inside the left wheat at the U of UNITED — creating a DDO/DDR die marriage where both obverse and reverse carry hub doubling. Stage C remains unconfirmed at LDS. The reverse pairing with DDR-001 makes this die combination particularly desirable, as collectors obtaining a single coin receive two distinct hub doubling varieties. Medium extra thickness on the date means the numerals 1946 appear noticeably bolder than on a normal strike, with the hub impressions overlapping closely enough to produce thickened rather than separated doubled images. The 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in the first full year of peacetime production after World War II, in the recycled shell-case brass used from 1944 through 1946 after the steel cent experiment of 1943. Denver's 1946 production was substantial as the economy transitioned to civilian demand. Four doubled die obverses for the 1946-D date places this variety within the broader post-war Wheat Cent variety catalog, where die researchers have systematically documented hub doubling across every date and mint in the series. The DMR-025 die marriage number indicates extensive die pair documentation for this date.

Die Markers

• UVC-1729
• DMR-025
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge over first T of TRUST – MDS
• Reverse is LISTED as DDR-001 – EMDS
• Die gouge just inside Left wheat at U of UNITED
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

External References