1939 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Attributed by Brian A. Ribar, the 1939 WDDO-012 Jefferson nickel is a Class VI Distended Hub Doubling variety, one of the rarest doubling classes in numismatics. Class VI doubling occurs when hub material physically distends during the hubbing process, producing extra thickness rather than the lateral separation seen in more common doubling classes. On this variety, strong extra thickness is visible on LIBERTY, the star, and the date, with lesser but still detectable thickening on IN GOD WE TRUST. The obverse carries die scratches above both the left and right porches of Monticello, serving as useful die markers. The reverse displays the Type II step design, confirming this as a Reverse of 1940 variety, one of the earliest uses of the modified reverse hub. Class VI varieties are genuinely scarce across all denominations because the distension mechanism requires unusual conditions during die production, making authenticated examples particularly valued by specialists in die-manufacturing errors.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1939 WDDO-012
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References