1938 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

From the inaugural year of the Jefferson Nickel series, DDR-002 presents a rare triple spread on the word UNITED — three distinct impressions visible where normally only one exists — alongside light double spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM and STATES OF AMERICA. Triple spread indicates that the hubbing process produced three slightly offset impressions on this portion of the die, a more complex anomaly than the standard two-impression doubling seen on most doubled dies. Felix Schlag won the 1938 public design competition for the new nickel, and Philadelphia struck 19.5 million of these first-year coins, establishing the design that would remain in production for over eight decades. Die markers UVC-595 and DMR-017 identify this specific die pairing. The significance of a triple-spread variety in the series' debut year cannot be overstated — first-year-of-issue collectors and die variety specialists both have reason to seek this coin. While the light doubling on the motto and denomination text requires careful examination, the triple spread on UNITED is the primary diagnostic and should be the first point of investigation when attempting attribution. The DMR-017 designation indicates substantial die marker research on this early date, consistent with the intensive scrutiny that Jefferson Nickel specialists have applied to the 1938 inaugural production.

Die Markers

• UVC-595; DMR-017

External References