1930 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

James Earle Fraser's iconic Indian Head and Buffalo design provides a richly detailed canvas where hub doubling manifests with particular clarity, and this 1930 DDO-002 captures medium spread to the northwest on the eyelid, nostril, upper lip, and slightly on the long feather. The composite Native American portrait concentrates fine detail in a small area where even moderate displacement produces visible secondary impressions. Cataloged under UVC-099 and DMR-003, the variety progresses through multiple die stages: Stage A shows the obverse in Early Die State with the reverse in Mid-Die State, Stage B remains unconfirmed, and Stage C shows the obverse in Late Die State with the reverse in Late Die State. The northwestward spread means the doubled image sits above and to the left of the primary features, creating shadow-like secondary impressions on the eyelid and lip best examined under magnification with directional lighting. Buffalo Nickel varieties from 1930 emerge from a period of reduced mintage as the Great Depression curtailed demand for circulating coinage, lending added scarcity to coins from dies that saw limited production runs.

Die Markers

• UVC-099
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References