1945 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-006

Description

Documented by Brian A. Ribar with cross-references to CONECA RPM number 45 and Wexler Variety ID 1945-P WDDR-006, this Philadelphia-mint Jefferson Nickel variety carries a dual attribution: the reverse exhibits Class II (Distorted Hub Doubling) while the coin is also listed as WRPM-046, indicating the same die pair also carries a repunched mintmark variety on its obverse. The Class II doubling produces close spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and CENTS that increases in intensity from left to right — a directional gradient characteristic of distorted hub displacement where the distortion's radial expansion is asymmetric across the die face. Obverse die markers include a die scratch below the B of LIBERTY and a short die scratch extending from Jefferson's nose. The reverse carries a strong north-south die scratch to the right of the second O of MONTICELLO and a slanted die scratch between the lower portions of the T and S of CENTS. The 1945 Jefferson Nickel was the final year of wartime composition (56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese), struck at all three mints with the large mintmark above Monticello's dome. Felix Schlag's original 1938 design appears on both sides of this 5.0-gram, 21.2 mm diameter coin. The dual DDR plus RPM attribution on a single die pair makes this variety particularly appealing to collectors who value multi-variety specimens.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• CONECA RPM#45; Wexler Variety ID: 1945-P WDDR-006
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References