1914 VDDR VDDR-001

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as the first doubled die reverse for the 1914 Buffalo Nickel, VDDR-001 exhibits extra thickness on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FIVE CENTS — the two primary inscription zones on James Earle Fraser's famous reverse design featuring a standing American bison (buffalo) on a mound. Three die stages are documented under provisional die marker codes (UVC-??? and DMR-00?): Stage A represents Early Die State, unconfirmed. Stage B advances to Late-Mid Die State with a die clash visible through PLURIBUS on the obverse and a clash mark under the chin — these clash marks indicate the obverse and reverse dies struck together without a planchet between them, transferring design elements from one die face onto the opposite. Stage C corresponds to Late Die State, also unconfirmed. The clash marks appearing at Stage B are particularly noteworthy because they demonstrate the die experienced significant service stress before reaching its end-of-life condition. The 1914 Buffalo Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) at 5.0 grams and 21.2 mm diameter. Fraser's obverse depicts a composite Native American portrait (modeled from Iron Tail, Two Moons, and Big Tree) facing right, with LIBERTY and the date. As the first documented DDR for the 1914 Philadelphia issue, VDDR-001 holds the primary position in this date's doubled die reverse census.

Die Markers

• UVC-???
• DMR-00?
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die clash through PLURIBUS –
• LMDS
• Die clash under chin – LDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Keith Christenson
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References