1945-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-020

Description

As the final year of shell case alloy cent production, 1945 holds a distinctive place in the Lincoln Wheat Cent series. The Denver Mint struck 266,268,000 cents that year using recycled brass cartridge casings — a wartime measure that gave these coins a slightly golden-brass appearance compared to the pre-war bronze composition. WDDO-020 is the twentieth doubled die obverse cataloged for the 1945-D issue, a count reflecting both the enormous production volume and the meticulous examination that attributors have devoted to this transitional date. Doubled die obverses occur when a working die receives a secondary hub impression at a slight offset during the die manufacturing process, embedding the doubling permanently into the die face. On Lincoln Wheat Cents, diagnostic areas include the LIBERTY inscription, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date digits, and details of Lincoln's portrait. The shell case alloy's brass-like surface sometimes aids detection by providing stronger contrast under magnification than pure copper. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-020.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D 1¢ WDDO-020
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References