1943 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-008

Description

Produced on the wartime silver alloy of 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese, this 1943 Jefferson Nickel DDO-008 shows light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST. Cataloged by VarietyVista under UVC-717 and DMR-071, the variety comes from Philadelphia's wartime production, identifiable by the large P mint mark above Monticello's dome — a unique positioning used exclusively during the 1942-1945 alloy period to distinguish silver-bearing coins from standard nickel-composition issues. Three die states are documented: Stage A in Early Die State, Stage B in Mid Die State, and Stage C in Late Die State. The light doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST is consistent with a slight hub shift during die preparation, producing extra thickness without dramatic separation. The wartime silver alloy was adopted because nickel metal was critically needed for armor plating and military applications, prompting the Mint to reformulate the five-cent piece with a composition that maintained acceptable striking properties while eliminating nickel entirely. DDO-008 documents one of the many obverse dies from Philadelphia's substantial 1943 wartime nickel production.

Die Markers

• UVC-717
• DMR-071
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References