1947 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Second in the Wexler Team's DDO roster for 1947, this Lincoln wheat cent variety carries the designation 1947 1¢ WDDO-002 without additional cross-references in the CONECA or Fivaz-Stanton catalogs. As one of the earlier-cataloged DDO varieties for the date, WDDO-002 likely exhibits relatively prominent doubling that facilitated its discovery and documentation. The 1947 Philadelphia cent was struck during a period of transition as the American economy shifted from wartime to peacetime footing. Mintage totaled 190.6 million pieces, a figure that produced enough coins to populate collector channels for decades while remaining modest enough that higher-grade examples carry a small premium over common-date wheat cents. Hub doubling on the obverse creates secondary images on elements of the Lincoln portrait, the date, and the legends, with the specific characteristics depending on the type and magnitude of hub-to-die misalignment that occurred during die preparation. WDDO-002 documents a unique misalignment event on a unique working die, distinct from the four other DDO varieties attributed for the 1947 date. Variety collectors working through the wheat cent series methodically examine coins date by date, and the 1947 DDO subset requires identification and acquisition of all five documented varieties for complete coverage. Well-struck examples from original rolls provide the best opportunity for clear attribution, as the full design detail and sharp die impressions on mint-state coins preserve doubled die features at their most visible. Circulated examples can still be attributed but may require higher magnification as wear reduces the apparent separation between primary and secondary images.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1947 1¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References