1938-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Designated WDDR-001 on the inaugural 1938-D Jefferson Nickel, this Class II Distorted Hub Doubling variety displays a spread toward the center on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FIVE CENTS, with the doubling intensity increasing from left to right across the reverse inscriptions. Lesser doubling also appears on E PLURIBUS UNUM. The Class II mechanism arises from slight warping or distortion of the working hub between successive impressions on the die face, producing doubling whose direction and strength vary unpredictably across different zones of the design. Obverse die markers include two light die scratches running from Jefferson's collar toward his chin, while the reverse carries a strong vertical die scratch from the left base of the Monticello building north into the field and a die scratch from the first O of MONTICELLO southwest toward the T of UNITED. As WDDR-001, this holds the primary catalog position among doubled die reverses for the 1938-D date, underscoring its significance within the first-year Denver Mint issue of Felix Schlag's competition-winning Jefferson design. The 1938-D Jefferson Nickel was struck in 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm, at the Denver Mint. With a mintage of approximately 5.38 million pieces — substantially lower than the Philadelphia issue — the 1938-D is already recognized as a key date in the series, and varieties bearing the WDDR-001 designation carry additional collector interest. The increasing left-to-right doubling gradient across the reverse legends provides a diagnostic pattern consistent with distorted hub geometry rather than simple lateral displacement.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Two light die scratches from Jefferson's collar toward his chin.
• Reverse: Strong vertical die scratch from left base of building north into field; die scratch from first O of MONTICELLO southwest toward T of UNITED.

External References