1945-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-010

Description

Documented by VarietyVista under UVC-1700 and DMR-027, this 1945-D Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverse was struck in the shell case alloy used from 1944 through 1946, when the Mint recycled brass from spent cartridge cases to conserve copper and tin for wartime needs. The recycled alloy gave these cents a slightly different color and luster compared to standard pre-war bronze composition. Three die stages have been recorded: Stage A in early die state, Stage B in mid die state with a die chip visible in the lower right wheat grains providing a key attribution marker, and Stage C in late die state. The mid die state die chip is particularly diagnostic, as it creates a small raised area on struck coins that can be detected under moderate magnification. Denver Mint Lincoln Cent production during 1945 contributed to the massive wartime output that kept cents flowing into commerce despite material constraints. Doubled die obverses on wheat cents from this era affect Brenner's Lincoln portrait, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, the word LIBERTY, and the date — all elements where hub displacement during die manufacture could leave detectable traces.

Die Markers

• UVC-1700
• DMR-027
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Die chip in lower Right grains – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Charlie Adkins
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References