1942-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

The primary doubled die obverse for the 1942 San Francisco Jefferson Nickel, DDO-001 shows medium spread on LIBERTY, the five-pointed star, and the date — a stronger classification than the light spread typical of many Jefferson nickel DDOs. Medium spread means the hub displacement produced clearly discernible secondary images detectable at relatively low magnification, rather than the subtle thickening associated with light varieties. Die markers UVC-705 and DMR-017 confirm this working die. Struck in the wartime silver alloy (35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese) at the San Francisco Mint, this nickel bears the distinctive large S mintmark above Monticello's dome that identifies all wartime silver issues. The 1942-S was among the first San Francisco wartime nickels, produced after the Mint transitioned from standard copper-nickel to the emergency silver composition partway through the year. As DDO-001, this variety holds the leading catalog position for the date-mint, indicating it was either the first reported or the most prominent. The star's geometric precision and the date's numeral forms provide the clearest diagnostic areas for confirming the medium spread.

Die Markers

• UVC-705; DMR-017

External References