1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-025

Description

Reaching WDDO-025 in the Wexler catalog for the 1946 Philadelphia cent underscores the thoroughness with which die variety researchers have examined this post-war date. This doubled die obverse joins a census exceeding thirty entries — a concentration that makes 1946 one of the definitive DDO years in the Lincoln Wheat cent series. The coins were struck from shell-case brass, 95% copper and 5% zinc recycled from spent military ammunition, connecting each piece to the material legacy of World War II. Philadelphia's output of 991,655,000 cents consumed working dies at a rate that increased the probability of hub doubling, and the mid-century hubbing process provided the mechanism. The Wexler numbering system ensures each variety has been vetted against all previously known entries. For WDDO-025, that involved comparing affected design elements, the class of displacement, and distinguishing die markers against twenty-four earlier entries. Collectors pursuing a complete set of 1946 WDDO varieties face a challenge combining affordability with genuine difficulty — the coins are inexpensive, but finding each variety requires patience and knowledge.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1¢ WDDO-025

External References