1946 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-031

Description

Bearing the thirty-first doubled die obverse designation for the 1946 Lincoln Wheat Cent, WDDO-031 shows strong extra thickness on the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST, with notable separation on the lower 9. This variety combines Class II and Class VI characteristics, classified as CONECA 3-O-II-C+VI, indicating both distorted and distended hub effects. The 1946 Philadelphia issue was the first post-war cent struck in standard bronze composition after the wartime brass and steel experiments of 1943-1945. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running southwest to northeast left of the back of Lincoln's head and a die scratch running west-southwest to east-northeast south of the 4 in the date. On the reverse, a short die gouge extends west-northwest from the top left of the C in CENT and another runs southwest from the top right of the C in CENT. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1c WDDO-031. The large number of cataloged doubled dies for 1946 reflects the enormous mintage and the many working dies required for postwar production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Wilson Cross References: CONECA: 3-O-II-C+VI
• CONECA: 3-O-II-C+VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1946 1¢ WDDO-031
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References