1921 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1921 5¢ WDDO-001 and cross-referenced as CONECA 1-O-IV+VIII, this Buffalo Nickel displays a Class IV spread to the northwest visible on the eyelid, nose, and lips of the Native American portrait, along with doubling on the left side of the right ribbon. The CONECA Class IV+VIII designation indicates a combination of Offset Hub Doubling and Tilted Hub Doubling — two distinct mechanisms acting simultaneously, producing a complex displacement pattern where the northwest-directed offset combines with a tilt-induced component to create varying degrees of separation across the portrait features. Two documented obverse die stages and two reverse stages are recorded: Obverse Stage A shows no die clash at the throat, while Obverse Stage B develops a die clash mark at the throat — documenting a clash event that occurred during the die's service life. Reverse Stage A shows no markers, while Reverse Stage B exhibits a typical die clash mark at E PLU along with a die scratch from the N in CENTS to the rim — progressive die deterioration markers. The Buffalo Nickel was designed by James Earle Fraser, featuring a composite Native American portrait on the obverse and an American Bison on the reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1921 in copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) weighing 5.0 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. The 1921 had a relatively low mintage of approximately 10.7 million pieces. The portrait doubling on the eyelid, nose, and lips creates a compelling visual effect on Fraser's deeply modeled Native American face, where the facial contours provide strong reference geometry against which even moderate displacement is readily visible.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Boccuti Cross References: CONECA: 1-O-IV+VIII
• CONECA: 1-O-IV+VIII; Wexler Variety ID: 1921 5¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References