1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Cross-referenced with the Fivaz-Stanton designation FS-1102, this fifth doubled die obverse for the inaugural 1938 Jefferson Nickel shows strong spread across multiple design elements: LIBERTY, the star, the date, and IN GOD WE TRUST. The breadth of doubling across four distinct areas indicates a significant hub misalignment during die preparation, and the "strong" classification means the doubling is readily visible under moderate magnification. VarietyVista assigns die classification codes UVC-585 and DMR-007, with four die stages documented — an unusually deep stage progression that tracks this die from early through very late die state. Stages A through D show the obverse and reverse progressing from unconfirmed early die state through confirmed mid-die-state, confirmed late die state, and finally confirmed very late die state — indicating this die pair remained in service for an extended production run. The 1938 Jefferson Nickel holds foundational significance as the first year of Felix Schlag's design, which won a public competition to replace Fraser's Buffalo Nickel. The initial 1938 design underwent minor modifications in subsequent years, making die varieties from this inaugural date especially interesting to collectors studying the design's evolution. The FS-1102 cross-reference confirms that the Fivaz-Stanton reference guide — the standard Cherry Pickers' Guide — recognizes this variety as significant enough for inclusion, indicating collector demand and market recognition. Strong doubling on a first-year-of-type coin creates a compelling intersection of design history and die variety collecting.

Die Markers

• UVC-585
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS
• Stage D:
• Obverse and Reverse are VLDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• FS-1102
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References