1937-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

From the final year of James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel series, the 1937-S DDO-001 shows light extra thickness on the date and LIBERTY — the two primary text elements on the obverse. Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-214 with die marriage DMR-008, this variety is documented across three die states (EDS, MDS, and LDS), all of which remain unconfirmed pending specimen photography. As the DDO-001 designation for this date and mint, it represents the first-cataloged doubled die obverse for the 1937-S Buffalo Nickel, struck at the San Francisco Mint. The 1937 marked the end of the Buffalo Nickel after 25 years of production, replaced by Felix Schlag's Jefferson Nickel design the following year. Doubled die obverse varieties from the final year of any series carry added numismatic significance, and collectors working through the Buffalo Nickel series should examine both date digits and the individual letters of LIBERTY for the diagnostic extra thickness that defines this variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-214
• DMR-008
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

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

External References