1946-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Postwar expansion at Denver Mint facilities reflected the broader economic transformation of 1946, as America transitioned from military production back to a consumer economy. Demand for circulating coinage surged, and the Mint responded with record-level cent production — over 315 million pieces from Denver alone. WDDO-004 documents the fourth doubled die obverse identified on the 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, a variety born from the die manufacturing process when a working die received a secondary hub impression at a slight positional offset. The return to bronze alloy after three years of wartime compositions (zinc-coated steel in 1943, shell case brass in 1944-1945) required recalibration of striking pressures and die preparation techniques, as bronze's 95% copper content behaves differently under compression than the alloys it replaced. Each documented DDO variety adds to the historical record of Denver's die shop operations during this transitional period. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1946-D 1¢ WDDO-004.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1946-D 1¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References