1946-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1946-S 1-cent WDDR-003, this Lincoln Wheat Cent doubled die reverse shows doubling on the left upper wheat lines. Notably, the obverse of this die pair carries a Trumpet Tail Mintmark — a mintmark shape variation where the tail of the S mintmark flares outward resembling a trumpet bell, a distinctive feature of certain San Francisco Mint punches. Furthermore, the obverse is itself a repunched mintmark listed in the Wexler RPM Files as 1946-S 1-cent WRPM-017, showing an S/S West repunching. Additional obverse die markers include north/south die scratches through the left upper side of the 9 in the date. This means a single coin from this die pair can exhibit three distinct variety features: the doubled die reverse, the repunched mintmark, and the trumpet tail mintmark — a convergence that significantly enhances its appeal to variety specialists. The Lincoln Wheat Cent was designed by Victor David Brenner (obverse, 1909) with the Wheat Ears reverse in use from 1909 through 1958. Struck at the San Francisco Mint in 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc, the coin weighs 3.11 grams at 19.05 mm diameter with a plain edge. The 1946-S cent was struck during the immediate post-war period as the economy transitioned from wartime production back to civilian needs. The San Francisco Mint's hand-applied mintmarks produced the trumpet tail S variation and the S/S West repunching, while the reverse doubled die resulted from hub misalignment during die manufacture. Collectors should examine the left upper wheat lines for the reverse doubling, then check the S mintmark for both the trumpet tail shape and the westward repunching, and finally look for the die scratches through the upper left of the 9 to confirm all three diagnostic features.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1946-S 1¢ WDDR-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References