1936 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA 2-O-VI, the 1936 Buffalo Nickel WDDO-002 displays Class VI extra thickness on LIBERTY and the date. Class VI doubling — also known as distorted die doubling — occurs when the die itself becomes distorted during the hubbing process, producing a subtle but consistent thickening of design elements rather than the separated image characteristic of stronger doubling classes. No obverse die markers have been noted, while the reverse features a die scratch running through the bottom of the IC in AMERICA. The penultimate year of James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel series, 1936 saw substantial production at Philadelphia, and this second-attributed doubled die obverse for the date provides variety collectors with a more subtle challenge than the often more obvious Class I rotated varieties. The extra thickness on both LIBERTY and the date digits requires careful examination under magnification, comparing letter and numeral widths against known normal examples.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ron Pope Cross References: CONECA: 2-O-VI
• CONECA: 2-O-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 5¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References