1946 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-010

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-2532 and DMR-017, this 1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die obverse has been documented across three die stages that reveal distinctive deterioration patterns concentrated on the reverse face. Stage A represents the Early Die State (unconfirmed), with clean die surfaces free of significant wear or scratching. Stage B advances to Mid Die State, featuring two notable markers: the obverse reaches MDS condition while the reverse develops numerous fine die scratches running in a northeast-to-southwest direction — an unusual pattern of parallel die scratches that likely resulted from die polishing or resurfacing work performed during the die's service life, where an abrasive was applied in a consistent directional stroke. Stage C reaches Late Die State (unconfirmed). The 1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the post-war bronze composition — 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc — marking the first full year of normal alloy production after the wartime deviations of steel cents in 1943 and shell case alloy cents in 1944-1945. The coin weighs 3.11 grams with a diameter of 19.0 mm and a plain edge. Victor David Brenner's obverse portrait of Abraham Lincoln, on which the hub doubling manifests, pairs with the wheat stalks reverse where the directional die scratches appear during Stage B. As DDO-010, this variety holds the tenth catalog position among doubled die obverses for the 1946 Philadelphia date, and the distinctive northeast-to-southwest die scratch pattern on the reverse provides both a strong authentication marker and a die state indicator that distinguishes MDS specimens from earlier and later production phases of this working die.

Die Markers

• UVC-2532
• DMR-017
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Numerous fine die scratches Northeast-Southwest on Reverse – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References