1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

DDO-003 on the 1938 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel — the inaugural year of the design — displays light doubling spanning LIBERTY, the star, and the date. This first-year issue holds special significance for variety collectors: any die variety from the debut year of Felix Schlag's design represents the very earliest manufacturing of a type that would continue for over 65 years. The Philadelphia Mint struck approximately 19.5 million nickels in 1938, a relatively modest mintage as the new design was introduced partway through the year after the final Buffalo nickels were produced. VarietyVista assigns UVC-583 and die marriage DMR-005 to this variety. The doubling across three separated elements — LIBERTY on the left, the star, and the date on the right — suggests a rotational or tilted hub misalignment that affected a wide arc of the die face. First-year Jefferson nickel varieties are particularly prized by type collectors and series specialists, and DDO-003 represents the third documented doubled die from this historically significant debut issue.

Die Markers

• UVC-583; DMR-005

External References