1946 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-006

Description

Among the notable postwar Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled dies, DDO-006 from 1946 stands out for its strong spread and extra thickness on the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY. Cataloged in the VarietyVista system as UVC-1715 with die marriage DMR-007, this variety shows hub misalignment affecting the most prominent obverse design elements simultaneously. Three die stages have been documented for the variety. Stage A is early die state, though currently unconfirmed. Stage B represents mid-die state, also unconfirmed. By Stage C, a horizontal die gouge has developed on the lower shoulder fold, placing the obverse in late die state, while the reverse reaches mid-die state. The 1946 date marked the resumption of copper-alloy cent production after wartime steel and shell-case compositions, and the retooling of dies for the returning alloy may have contributed to hubbing inconsistencies. Collectors seeking this variety should look for the pronounced extra thickness on the date digits first, as the strong spread makes identification possible even without high magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-1715
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Horizontal die gouge on lower shoulder fold – LDS
• Reverse is MDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by BJ Neff
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References