1942-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

This wartime-era 1942-S Jefferson nickel carries a doubled die reverse, DDR-001, displaying light spread concentrated on the lower serifs of E PLURIBUS UNUM across the reverse field above Monticello. Struck at the San Francisco Mint during the first year of the emergency silver alloy composition (56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese), this coin bears the distinctive large "S" mintmark above Monticello's dome — the wartime placement adopted to distinguish the new alloy from the standard cupro-nickel issues produced earlier that same year. The VarietyVista system cataloged this variety under UVC-707 with die marriage DMR-019. As DDR-001, it holds the benchmark designation for the 1942-S doubled die reverse census. The serif doubling on UNUM provides the most reliable diagnostic, as the lower terminals of the letters show a secondary impression that creates a noticeably heavier appearance compared to undoubled specimens. Collectors prize silver-alloy Jefferson nickel varieties for their combined bullion content and die variety significance.

Die Markers

• UVC-707; DMR-019

External References