1946-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Presenting medium extra thickness on the date digits of the 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent, DDO-004 carries VarietyVista codes UVC-1729 and DMR-025, with a complex three-stage progression revealing evolving die characteristics. Stage A remains unconfirmed at EDS. Stage B documents a die gouge over the first T of TRUST at MDS, with the reverse listed as DDR-001 in early-to-mid die state and a die gouge just inside the left wheat at the U of UNITED — creating a DDO/DDR die marriage where both obverse and reverse carry hub doubling. Stage C remains unconfirmed at LDS. The reverse pairing with DDR-001 makes this die combination particularly desirable, as collectors obtaining a single coin receive two distinct hub doubling varieties. Medium extra thickness on the date means the numerals 1946 appear noticeably bolder than on a normal strike, with the hub impressions overlapping closely enough to produce thickened rather than separated doubled images. The 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in the first full year of peacetime production after World War II, when the Mint resumed standard copper-alloy composition following the steel cent experiment of 1943 and the recycled shell-case bronze of 1944-1946. Denver's 1946 production was substantial as the economy transitioned to civilian demand. Four doubled die obverses for the 1946-D date places this variety within the broader post-war Wheat Cent variety catalog, where die researchers have systematically documented hub doubling across every date and mint in the series. The DMR-025 die marriage number indicates extensive die pair documentation for this date.

Die Markers

• UVC-1729
• DMR-025
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge over first T of TRUST – MDS
• Reverse is LISTED as DDR-001 – EMDS
• Die gouge just inside Left wheat at U of UNITED
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Larry Patterson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References