1936 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Second in the reverse doubled die census for the 1936 Buffalo nickel, WDDR-002 presents a Class VI spread affecting the inscription UNITED STATES OF on James Earle Fraser's iconic bison reverse. Class VI doubling — distorted die — occurs when the working die itself becomes distorted during use, typically through heat or stress, causing a subtle warping that produces doubled impressions as the die's surface geometry shifts relative to the hub's original design. Obverse die markers provide valuable attribution support: a die crack runs across the center of the feather on the Indian Head portrait, and a die gouge sits above the digits 36 in the date — two independent confirmation points that identify this specific working die. No significant reverse die markers beyond the doubling itself were noted. Cross-references include CONECA classification 2-R-VI and the Wexler Variety ID: 1936 5¢ WDDR-002, confirming attribution system agreement on both the Class VI mechanism and the variety's position in the doubled die census. Philadelphia struck approximately 119 million Buffalo nickels in 1936, the penultimate year of the type before the 1937-dated final regular issues (1938 saw only Denver production). The Class VI distorted die mechanism is among the less common doubling classifications, making WDDR-002 notable both for its attributable diagnostics and for documenting this specific doubling origin on a late-series Buffalo nickel. Fraser's deeply sculpted bison reverse, with its prominent UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscription arcing above the standing buffalo, provides crisp letterforms where even the subtle displacement characteristic of Class VI doubling can be detected. Collectors should first check the obverse for the feather die crack and the die gouge above 36, then examine UNITED STATES OF under 15-20x magnification for the Class VI spread.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Russo Cross References: CONECA: 2-R-VI
• CONECA: 2-R-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 5¢ WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References