1946 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

The variety designated Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1¢ WDDO-008 is one of more than two dozen doubled die obverses documented for the 1946 Philadelphia cent. This remarkable proliferation makes 1946 one of the richest single dates for DDO study in the entire Lincoln series. The post-war economy was undergoing rapid reconversion as millions of servicemen returned to civilian life, creating unprecedented demand for goods and the small change needed to buy them. Philadelphia's output of 991,655,000 cents required extensive die rotation, and the multi-impression hubbing process could produce doubled dies when alignment varied. The 1946 cent was composed of shell-case brass — 95% copper, 5% zinc — sourced from recycled military cartridge casings. Brenner's Lincoln portrait, in its 37th year, provided the canvas on which hub doubling left its mark. Cherrypicking this variety requires familiarity with the specific doubling characteristics that distinguish WDDO-008 from its many siblings, making reference photographs and attribution guides essential tools for the serious variety collector.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References