1939 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Combining Class II and Class VI distorted and distended hub doubling, this 1939 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel carries one of the earlier doubled die reverse designations in the series. A close spread toward the center appears on E PLURIBUS UNUM, FIVE CENTS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and the right side of Monticello's facade. Additional extra thickness shows on FIVE CENTS, MONTICELLO, and the windows on the building's right side, where the architectural detail amplifies even subtle displacement. The reverse die markers include a die scratch running ENE from the upper right portion of R in PLURIBUS to the rim over the left side of the second U, a very short die gouge from the center of the left side of E in EPU, six diagonal die scratches above the second O of MONTICELLO, and a curving die scratch between the lower portions of CE of CENTS. No obverse die markers have been noted. Jefferson nickels debuted in 1938 with Felix Schlag's design, and this 1939 WDDR-002 represents an early doubled die from the series' second production year, when die preparation procedures were still being refined for the new design.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Die scratch ENE from upper right portion of R of PLURIBUS to rim over left side of second U; very short die gouge from center of left side of E in EPU; six diagonal die scratches above second O of MONTICELLO; curving die scratch (?) between lower portions of CE of CENTS.

External References