1934-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Third in the reverse doubled die census for the 1934-D Buffalo nickel, DDR-003 exhibits medium spread in an eastward direction on both front legs of the bison — James Earle Fraser's iconic standing buffalo that has defined the reverse since the type's debut in 1913. VarietyVista assigned identifiers UVC-246 and DMR-006, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where the reverse has progressed to early-to-mid die state with a light die crack developing in the upper hair region of the Indian head obverse, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The EMDS notation for Stage B combined with the emerging die crack provides a useful intermediate diagnostic for collectors attempting to determine the die state of their specimen. Denver struck approximately 7.48 million Buffalo nickels in 1934, a Depression-era mintage that reflects reduced commercial demand for five-cent coins during the economic downturn. The additional comment notes MMS-001 (small), indicating this die also carries a minor misplaced mintmark — the D mintmark showing a small secondary impression displaced from the primary position — adding a second attributable variety characteristic to the same die. Medium eastward spread on the bison's front legs places the secondary hub impression to the right of the primary when viewing the coin in standard orientation, and the fine detail of the leg musculature and hair provides excellent surfaces for detecting hub doubling under moderate magnification. Fraser's deeply sculptured bison design makes Buffalo nickels particularly rewarding for doubled die hunting, as the organic contours amplify even modest displacement.

Die Markers

• UVC-246
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is EMDS
• Light die crack in upper hair
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lewis Fletcher
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References