1942-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Wartime San Francisco production provides the context for WDDO-002, a Class II distorted hub doubling on the 1942-S Jefferson nickel attributed by Brian A. Ribar. The doubling shows on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the star, and the date — a comprehensive spread across the obverse that indicates the hub distortion affected a wide swath of the die face during the secondary impression. Obverse die markers include a die crack at the top of Jefferson's head, a progressive failure feature that helps establish die state, and die scratches running through the BER of LIBERTY. The reverse provides additional confirmation points: a die scratch between the I and V of FIVE, and a slanted die scratch at the bottom of the T in MONTICELLO. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1942-S WDDO-002, this variety emerged during a pivotal year for the Jefferson nickel series. The 1942-S standard-composition nickel had a mintage of 32,900,000 before production shifted mid-year to the wartime silver alloy (35% silver, 56% copper, 9% manganese) to conserve nickel for military use. WDDO-002 appears on the standard copper-nickel composition, as the wartime alloy coins are distinguished by a large mintmark above Monticello on the reverse. Felix Schlag's design had been in production since only 1938, making 1942 a relatively early year in the series, and the San Francisco die shop's production of this doubled die documents that hub alignment challenges existed at the facility from the series' earliest years. The die crack at Jefferson's head crown suggests this die saw significant service before retirement, potentially producing a substantial number of WDDO-002 specimens.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1942-S WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References