1938 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-016

Description

The 1938 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-016 is a Class II Distorted Hub Doubling variety on the inaugural-year Jefferson Nickel. Class II doubling results from a tilted or distorted hub during die sinking, producing displacement that varies in direction and intensity across the die face. On this die, close Class II doubling is visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM, with slight additional spread on AMERICA. The "close" descriptor indicates the secondary impression sits near the primary, manifesting as thickened letter strokes rather than widely separated doubled images. As a first-year-of-issue variety struck in 1938, this die holds significance for Jefferson Nickel specialists — Felix Schlag's design replaced the Buffalo Nickel, and 1938 varieties document the earliest die production for the new series. Obverse die markers show none noted, while the reverse carries a die gouge protruding from the right side of both the A and T of STATES, along with a die gouge and scratches through the B of PLURIBUS. These reverse markers provide reliable secondary diagnostics for attribution. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1938 WDDR-016.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1938 WDDR-016
• Expert attribution by Brian Ribar

External References