1929 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Premier doubled die obverse for the 1929 Buffalo Nickel, DDO-001 delivers medium spread on the date, neck, and braid — three widely separated elements all carrying visible hub doubling from a misaligned secondary impression during die manufacture. Cross-referenced as Cherrypickers FS-101, Unique Variety Code UVC-096, and Die Marriage Reference DMR-004, this variety holds the lead catalog position for its date. Stage A represents Early Die State, with Stages B and C unconfirmed. The medium spread across date, neck, and braid indicates a uniform hub displacement affecting elements across the obverse, rather than rotational doubling that would show variable intensity. James Earle Fraser's iconic design — a composite Native American portrait on the obverse, American bison on the reverse — was in its seventeenth year during 1929, the final year of the Roaring Twenties. Struck on 75% copper and 25% nickel at 21.2mm at Philadelphia. Examine the date for medium spread, then confirm on the neck and braid for consistent doubling across all three diagnostic areas.

Die Markers

• UVC-096
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Hess
• FS-101
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References