1946-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

WDDO-002 on the 1946-S Jefferson nickel is a Class II distorted hub doubling variety where a spread toward the center is visible on LIBERTY, the star, and the date, with the strongest expression on LIBERTY. Class II mechanics produce centripetal displacement — design elements appearing to move inward — and the varying intensity across different design elements (strongest on LIBERTY, lighter on the star and date) indicates the distortion's epicenter was positioned closer to the star and date areas, with LIBERTY experiencing greater displacement due to its distance from the pivot. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running ESE from the bottom of the E in LIBERTY and a short heavy die scratch parallel to the rim above the O of GOD. Reverse die markers complement the identification: a short heavy die scratch ESE from the lower right of the F in OF and die scratches running NE from the right side of the mintmark. The 1946-S was struck at the San Francisco Mint in the first full year after World War II ended, as the facility resumed normal coin production. San Francisco had been heavily involved in wartime coinage production, including the famous wartime silver-alloy nickels of 1942-1945, and 1946 marked the return to the standard copper-nickel composition. Finding this variety requires focused attention on LIBERTY as the primary pickup point before confirming the star and date doubling under higher magnification.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die scratch ESE from bottom of E of LIBERTY; short heavy die scratch parallel to rim above O of GOD.
• Reverse: Short heavy die scratch ESE from lower right of F of OF; die scratches NE from right side of mint mark.

External References