1946-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Transitioning from wartime alloys back to standard bronze, the 1946-S cent was struck at a facility that would gradually reduce its circulating coinage output in subsequent decades, eventually becoming primarily associated with proof and special collector issues. While still producing nearly 200 million cents annually in 1946, the San Francisco Mint operated at near-wartime capacity for this first postwar issue. WDDO-002 from the 1946-S cent is the second doubled die obverse documented for this date, a variety created when a working die received a misaligned secondary hub impression during the die manufacturing process. The 95% copper bronze alloy, restored after three years of wartime substitutes, produces coins with the warm reddish-brown toning familiar to Lincoln Cent collectors — a color palette that develops through natural oxidation and ranges from brilliant original red through various shades of brown depending on storage conditions and handling. Doubled die detection on bronze surfaces benefits from the metal's excellent ability to reproduce fine die detail. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1946-S 1¢ WDDO-002.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1946-S 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References