1947 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Strong spread affects STATES OF AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, and the ELLO portion of MONTICELLO on this 1947 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, cataloged by VarietyVista as DDR-003 with die markers UVC-836 and DMR-004. Three die stages are documented: Stages A and B remain unconfirmed in Early and Mid Die State respectively, while Stage C shows both reverse and obverse confirmed in Late Die State — an unusual pattern where the variety has only been positively verified in late-stage specimens. The "strong" spread designation indicates that the doubling on DDR-003 is among the more dramatic for the 1947 date, potentially visible under low magnification or even to the unaided eye on well-struck pieces. The 1947 Jefferson Nickel was struck during the post-war economic boom, just two years after the return from the wartime silver alloy composition. Felix Schlag's Monticello design — which had debuted in 1938 with the initials FS initially omitted from the coin — provided the architectural backdrop for what would become one of the most thoroughly documented doubled die reverse series in the nickel denomination. The spread across FIVE CENTS and the building name MONTICELLO indicates a hub displacement that primarily affected the lower reverse die area, with STATES OF AMERICA in the upper portion also catching the secondary impression. DDR-003's LDS-only confirmation suggests that collectors should look for late-die-state markers — die cracks, die chips, or general softening of detail — alongside the doubling itself.

Die Markers

• UVC-836
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Stephen K. Schmidt
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References