1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Exhibiting Class V Pivoted Hub Doubling, this 1945 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel WDDO-009 was struck during the final year of wartime silver alloy production. The 35% silver composition would be discontinued after 1945 as strategic metal conservation was no longer necessary. Several die markers aid in attribution: a die crack at the top of Jefferson's head, a gouge above the upper left side of the portrait on the obverse, and on the reverse a die crack or break to the upper left of the Monticello building along with a die scratch in the S of CENTS. A possible repunched mintmark adds further interest to the die marriage. Pivoted hub doubling produces spread that radiates outward from a fixed rotation point, creating separation that increases with distance from the pivot axis. The large P mintmark above Monticello's dome identifies this as a Philadelphia wartime issue — one of only three years (1942-1945) when Philadelphia coins carried a visible mintmark on the nickel denomination. Collectors seeking final-year wartime silver varieties find WDDO-009 appealing for its combination of hub doubling classification and progressive die deterioration markers.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die crack at top of Jefferson's head; die gouge in field above upper left side of his head.
• Reverse: Die crack and break in field to upper left of building; slanted die scratch inside lower portion of S of CENTS; die dot to lower left of small left window.  Possible P/P

External References