1943-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-013

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team with Variety ID 1943-S 1c WDDO-013, this doubled die obverse was struck at the San Francisco Mint on a 1943 zinc-coated steel Lincoln Wheat cent. The wartime steel cent composition, weighing 2.70 grams at 19 mm diameter, was used exclusively during 1943 to conserve copper for military needs. The obverse carries several important die markers: a horizontal die gouge directly above the 4 in the date, two die gouges on the lapel southwest of the date, a die crack above VDB (Victor David Brenner's initials), and vertical die scratches under and in front of Lincoln's chin. The reverse also provides authentication diagnostics, including a die dot slightly west of center in the second U of PLURIBUS and die scratches below the C in CENT running in a NNW/SSE direction. The San Francisco Mint produced 191,550,000 steel cents in 1943, and the harsh interaction between the steel planchets and the die surfaces created conditions favorable for accelerated die deterioration and variety production. This variety belongs to the Lincoln Wheat Cents 1909-1958 series, with Brenner's portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the wheat ears reverse. The 1943 steel cents represent one of the most unusual compositions in regular-issue American coinage, and varieties from this single year of production remain highly sought by specialists who appreciate both the wartime history and the numismatic significance of these distinctive coins.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1943-S 1¢ WDDO-013
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References