1945 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Paired with a reverse die that is independently cataloged as RPM-017, the 1945 Jefferson nickel DDO-001 presents an unusual situation where two distinct varieties -- a doubled die obverse and a repunched mintmark -- coexist on coins from the same die pair. VarietyVista assigned UVC-208 with die markers reference DMR-018 and documented a multi-stage progression that reveals progressive die deterioration. Stage A at early die state remains unconfirmed, but Stage B at early-to-mid die state (EMDS) is identified by a die gouge running east-west through the upper hair along with a die clash visible through Jefferson's queue, while light die scratches run east-west through the mintmark on the reverse (which itself is listed as RPM-017). Stage C advances to mid-die-state on both obverse and reverse, and a final Stage C entry records late die state. The light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST constitutes the primary doubled die diagnostic, though the subtlety of this doubling means collectors often identify the RPM-017 mintmark variety first and only subsequently confirm the companion DDO-001 obverse attribution. Wartime Jefferson nickels from 1945 were struck in the 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese alloy adopted in 1942 to conserve nickel for the war effort, and they carry the distinctive large mintmark above Monticello's dome. The convergence of DDO and RPM on a single die pair makes this an especially rewarding find for attribution specialists.

Die Markers

• UVC-208
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge East-West through upper hair – EMDS
• Die clash through queue
• Reverse is LISTED as RPM-017 – EMDS
• Light die scratches East-west through mintmark
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Jerome Goodman
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References