1946 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-013

Description

The Wexler catalog entry 1946 1¢ WDDO-013 identifies another doubled die obverse among the rich variety population of the 1946 Philadelphia cent. Collectors and researchers have long recognized 1946 as a banner year for doubled die discoveries — a distinction owed to the convergence of massive mintage, intensive die usage, and dedicated examination of millions of surviving coins over decades. Philadelphia's 991,655,000-piece output provided the raw material, while the hubbing process supplied the mechanism. Working dies received their impression from a master hub in multiple stages, and positional variance between those stages created the doubled images that collectors seek. The 1946 cent's shell-case brass of 95% copper and 5% zinc tied these coins to the final chapter of wartime material conservation. Studying the progression of WDDO numbers illustrates how die variety research evolves: early discoveries tend to be the most dramatic, while later additions often feature subtler doubling that rewards experienced eyes. Each entry nevertheless enriches the scholarly record, documenting another unique die and another moment of mechanical imprecision preserved for posterity.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1¢ WDDO-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References