1946-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-005

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1946-D 1¢ WDDR-005 and cross-referenced as CONECA 3-O-IV and Coppercoins 1946D-1DO-002, this Lincoln Wheat Cent’s obverse is also a doubled die listed in the Wexler files as 1946-D 1¢ WDDO-021, making this an uncommon die marriage where both the obverse and reverse dies carry doubled die features from separate hubbing events. Reverse die markers are extensive: a die scratch runs north-northeast from the top right of the right wheat ear to the rim, two parallel die scratches run east-southeast from the bottom of the T in CENT to the right wheat ear, a long die scratch runs east-southeast from the bottom of the E in AMERICA to the lower right wheat ear, and a die gouge sits to the left of the O in OF almost touching the left wheat ear. The CONECA 3-O-IV classification categorizes the obverse doubling mechanism, while the Coppercoins cross-reference links to the complementary catalog system for Lincoln cent varieties. The 1946-D Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Denver Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, weighing 3.11 grams with a 19.05 mm diameter. Victor David Brenner designed the obverse portrait, and the wheat ears reverse served in its thirty-eighth year. The dual-doubled-die nature of this die marriage — with both WDDR-005 and WDDO-021 present on the same coin — represents an unusual convergence where two independently defective dies were paired together in the production line, doubling the attribution interest for collectors who can document both obverse and reverse doubling on a single specimen. The extensive pattern of die scratches radiating from multiple reverse lettering elements toward the wheat ears provides robust identification markers.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar Cross References: CONECA: 3-O-IV, Coppercoins: 1946D-1DO-002
• CONECA: 3-O-IV, Coppercoins: 1946D-1DO-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1946-D 1¢ WDDR-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References