1944-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Documented as UVC-189 DMR-002 in the VarietyVista system, the 1944-S DDR-003 is a doubled die reverse on the wartime silver Jefferson nickel showing light spread on UNUM. The 1944-S was struck in the special 35% silver alloy adopted from 1942 through 1945 to conserve nickel for the war effort, with the large S mintmark placed above Monticello to distinguish wartime issues. This variety has a complex die stage progression across three stages. Stage A represents the early die state, currently unconfirmed. Stage B, the mid-die state, shows light die scratches over all of the reverse, while the obverse progresses further to very late die state with a die break over the E of LIBERTY and die cracks extending from the top of the head. Stage C, the late die state, shows the reverse die scratches worn away, with the obverse at very late die state. Notably, the reverse of this die marriage is listed as RPM-001, indicating the reverse die also carries a repunched mintmark, giving collectors two distinct varieties on a single coin. This dual classification as both a doubled die reverse and a repunched mintmark die makes the DDR-003 an especially interesting find for wartime nickel specialists.

Die Markers

• UVC-189
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Light die scratches over all of Reverse – MDS
• Die break over E of LIBERTY – VLDS
• Die crack from top of head Southwest to front hair
• Die crack from top of head Southeast and then South through hair
• Stage C:
• Die scratches on Reverse are worn away – LDS
• Obverse is VLDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References