1942-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Very close Class II distorted hub doubling on UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA distinguishes this 1942 Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel doubled die reverse, which shares its obverse die with the 1942-D WDDO-001 — making this a doubled die obverse and reverse combination from the same die pair. Class II doubling results from hub distortion during the die-making process, where physical warping of the hub produces an asymmetric spread pattern across the die face. The reverse die markers are diagnostic: a vertical die scratch between the S of PLURIBUS and the first U of UNUM, slanted die scratches inside the O of OF, and a die gouge above the M of MONTICELLO. Additionally, the reverse carries a possible repunched mintmark designated WRPM-??? D/D South, where the Denver mintmark shows evidence of a secondary punch position to the south. The 1942-D nickel holds historical significance as the last Denver Mint nickel struck in the standard copper-nickel composition before the wartime silver alloy was introduced later that year — the famous "war nickels" with the large P, D, or S mintmark above Monticello ran from mid-1942 through 1945. The combination of a doubled die obverse and doubled die reverse on the same coin, plus a potential RPM, makes this die pair one of the most feature-rich documented for early Jefferson Nickel production.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Listed as 1942-D 5c WDDO-001.
• Reverse: Vertical die scratch between S of PLURIBUS and first U of UNUM; slanted die scratches inside O of OF; die gouge above M of MONTICELLO.  WRPM-??? D/D South

External References