1943 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-020

Description

Twentieth documented doubled die obverse for the 1943 Jefferson Nickel, this VarietyVista variety carries die identifiers UVC-731 and DMR-094, with light spread visible on IN GOD WE TRUST. The die progressed through three stages: Stage A in early die state is unconfirmed, Stage B shows a die clash above the knot of Monticello at early-to-mid die state with the reverse also at early-to-mid die state, and Stage C in late die state remains unconfirmed. The 1943 Jefferson Nickel is historically significant as one of the wartime silver nickels — from mid-1942 through 1945, nickels were struck in a special 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese alloy to conserve nickel for wartime armor plating. These wartime composition nickels are identifiable by the large mint mark placed above Monticello's dome on the reverse. The die clash noted at Stage B indicates the dies struck each other without a planchet, transferring design elements between dies — a common occurrence during high-speed production. Felix Schlag's original Monticello design, which debuted in 1938, was in its sixth year when this die was manufactured. Twenty DDOs for a single wartime nickel date demonstrates the depth of variety research on this collected composition variant.

Die Markers

• UVC-731
• DMR-094
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die clash above knot – EMDS
• Reverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References