1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-011

Description

Designated Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-011, this doubled die obverse was produced from shell-case brass planchets during the closing months of World War II. The process that creates a doubled die involves the Mint's hub — a positive master punch carrying Victor David Brenner's Lincoln portrait — being impressed into a blank die in multiple applications. When the die or hub shifts between impressions, the working die carries overlapping images that appear as doubling on every coin it strikes. Philadelphia produced 1,040,515,000 cents in 1945, underscoring wartime demand for small change as the economy mobilized millions. The shell-case composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc, recovered from spent military brass, continued through 1946 before the Mint returned to standard bronze. Attributing WDDO-011 requires comparing observed doubling against reference photographs, noting which design elements — motto letters, date digits, or bust details — display the characteristic spread. Higher WDDO numbers often indicate subtler varieties, making them rewarding finds for specialists who appreciate the detective work in die variety collecting.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1945 1¢ WDDO-011
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References