1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-018

Description

Attributed as Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-018, this doubled die obverse comes from a Philadelphia Mint production run exceeding one billion cents. The 1945 Lincoln Wheat cent was composed of shell-case brass — 95% copper, 5% zinc — from recycled military cartridge cases as part of wartime conservation of strategic metals. Unlike pre-war bronze containing tin, the shell-case formula produced planchets with subtly different striking properties. The presence of WDDO-018 in the catalog reflects the systematic approach that modern variety research brings to the Lincoln cent series. Researchers examine coins under high magnification, photograph the doubling, map its location, classify it by hub doubling type, and submit findings for peer review before a new Wexler number is assigned. This methodology ensures that each cataloged variety represents genuine hub doubling rather than the worthless machine doubling or die deterioration that can deceive less experienced collectors. As a 1945-dated issue, this cent was struck during the final chapter of the deadliest conflict in human history, lending even minor varieties a certain historical gravity.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-018
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References