1938-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

From the inaugural year of the Jefferson Nickel series — Felix Schlag's winning design replacing James Earle Fraser's Buffalo Nickel in 1938 — this Denver Mint DDR documents a die variety from the very first production run of a new American coin type. Class II distorted hub doubling manifests on E PLURIBUS UNUM, where the motto's lettering shows displacement characteristic of hub distortion during die preparation. The first-year significance adds context: dies for the new Jefferson design were being prepared for the first time, and the hub-to-die transfer process for an untested design may have presented unique challenges. Die markers span both sides. On the obverse, die scratches appear on Jefferson's ribbon, while the reverse carries a die scratch from the lower left side of the Monticello dome, two die scratches above the right side of the building, and a die dot to the upper right of the first L of MONTICELLO. These architectural markers tied to Schlag's Monticello reverse — dome, building facade, and lettering — establish the attribution coordinates that became standard reference points for Jefferson Nickel variety researchers across following decades.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die scratches on Jefferson's ribbon.
• Reverse: Die scratch from lower left side of dome; two die scratches above right side of building; die dot to upper right of first L of MONTICELLO.

External References