1939 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-022

Description

Attributed by Brian A. Ribar, WDDR-022 for the 1939 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel documents Class II distorted hub doubling on UNUM, AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, and ELLO of MONTICELLO on the Reverse of 1940 subtype. The 1939 Jefferson Nickel exists with two reverse types — Reverse of 1938 and Reverse of 1940 — and this variety appears on the latter, featuring Type II steps with clearly defined horizontal lines at the base of Monticello. Class II doubling results from angular misalignment between hub and die during secondary hubbing. Obverse die markers include a die scratch below Jefferson's chin, while the reverse shows die scratches below ES of STATES and CA of AMERICA, plus scratches below E and the first L of MONTICELLO. Felix Schlag's Jefferson Nickel design won a public competition in 1938, and the early years are prized for significant doubled die and repunched mint mark varieties. Identification requires confirming the reverse doubling and verifying the Type II Monticello steps.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1939 WDDR-022
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References