1946-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Spread toward the center affecting both upper wheat ears, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the separator dots characterizes this 1946 San Francisco Mint Lincoln Wheat Cent, which combines a doubled die reverse with a trumpet tail mintmark and a repunched mintmark (S/S North, listed separately as 1946-S 1c WRPM-001 in the Wexler RPM Files). The Wexler Team attributes this variety under Wexler Variety ID 1946-S 1c WDDR-004, and the combination of a doubled die reverse with an RPM on the same coin makes this die pair particularly interesting for variety collectors who can document both features on a single specimen. The trumpet tail mintmark — where the serif of the S mintmark flares outward in a distinctive trumpet shape — is a die characteristic resulting from the specific mintmark punch used, and its presence helps narrow attribution to dies prepared with that particular punch. The centripetal spread direction on the reverse, pushing design elements toward the coin's center, indicates a specific hub displacement geometry during the die-making process. The 1946-S Lincoln Cent was struck at San Francisco during the first full year of post-World War II production, with the Mint returning to peacetime operations. San Francisco produced approximately 198.1 million cents in 1946. Four documented doubled die reverses for the 1946-S date represents ongoing variety research into the immediate post-war Wheat Cent dates.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1946-S 1¢ WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References