1940 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Featuring strong spread on the back of Jefferson's head, eye, nose, and front collar, the 1940 Philadelphia DDO-003 stands out among Jefferson nickel doubled die obverses for its concentration on the portrait itself rather than the surrounding text. Most DDOs in the series show their primary diagnostics on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, or the date — but DDO-003 manifests its hub doubling directly on Felix Schlag's sculptural portrait elements. Strong classification means this doubling is visible under low magnification, with the secondary impression creating clearly separated contours along the profile's hairline, facial features, and collar detail. Philadelphia produced roughly 176.5 million nickels in 1940, the third year of the Jefferson design. VarietyVista records this variety as UVC-643 with die marriage DMR-006. Portrait doubling of this type provides dramatic visual impact, as the displaced facial features create an almost three-dimensional illusion on well-struck specimens. Collectors should examine the back of the head first, where the strong spread produces the most visible secondary outline against the field.

Die Markers

• UVC-643; DMR-006

External References