1913 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-007

Description

Light spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with extra thickness on FIVE CENTS characterizes this seventh documented doubled die reverse for the 1913 Buffalo Nickel, attributed by VarietyVista and confirmed as RDV-002, the bison-on-flat-ground reverse design variety. The distinction between RDV-001 (bison on mound) and RDV-002 (bison on flat ground) is fundamental to 1913 Buffalo Nickel attribution, as designer James Earle Fraser's original Type I design was modified partway through the year to lower the denomination area for improved wear resistance. Die markers under UVC-250 and DMR-013 identify three stages: Stage A is early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at early-to-mid die state shows a die clash through the B of PLURIBUS and a die clash below the chin and in front of the nose, and Stage C is late die state (unconfirmed). The die clash evidence in Stage B reveals that this die pair experienced at least one clash event during its production run, where the obverse and reverse dies struck each other without an intervening planchet. The 1913 date holds singular importance in American numismatics as the inaugural year of Fraser's Indian Head / Buffalo design, which replaced Charles Barber's Liberty Head Nickel after twenty-nine years. The two 1913 types together saw a combined mintage exceeding 30 million pieces at Philadelphia alone. Doubled die reverses on first-year-of-issue coins carry heightened collector interest because they document the Mint's production challenges during the transition to new dies and tooling.

Die Markers

• UVC-250
• DMR-013
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die clash through the B of PLURIBUS – EMDS
• Die clash below chin and in front of nose – EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lewis Fletcher
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References