1946 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-011

Description

As one of the first post-war Lincoln wheat cents, the 1946 DDO-011 preserves a doubled die obverse showing extra thickness on the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY. Cataloged as UVC-2927 with die marker reference DMR-018, the variety has three documented die stages with Stages A and B at early and mid-die-state respectively remaining unconfirmed. Stage C shows the obverse in late die state, accompanied by circular die scratches on the center of the reverse, also in late die state. These circular reverse scratches likely resulted from die polishing or maintenance performed as the die approached the end of its working life. The 1946 Philadelphia Mint cent marked the return to full peacetime production after years of wartime constraints on materials and manpower, and mintages surged to meet pent-up demand. The extra thickness across three major obverse design elements gives collectors multiple points of confirmation when attributing this variety, with the date and LIBERTY being the most accessible pickup areas under standard magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-2927
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse is LDS
• Circular die scratches on center of Reverse – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References