1949 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Carrying the primary Wexler obverse doubled die designation for the 1949 Jefferson nickel, WDDO-001 exhibits Class V pivoted hub doubling on LIBERTY, the five-pointed star between E PLURIBUS UNUM and LIBERTY, and the date. Class V doubling in the Wexler classification system results from a pivot point around which one hub impression rotates relative to another, creating a characteristic pattern where design elements closer to the pivot show minimal displacement while those farther from the pivot display progressively greater spread. Felix Schlag's Jefferson nickel obverse, selected through a 1938 design competition and featuring a left-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson adapted from Jean-Antoine Houdon's celebrated bust, places LIBERTY along the lower left rim and the date at the base — positions that would show pronounced displacement from a pivot centered elsewhere on the die. Philadelphia struck approximately 60.65 million nickels in 1949, a post-war mintage reflecting normalized commercial demand. The obverse carries a diagnostic die gouge to the left of the I in IN, while the reverse shows a corresponding die gouge to the left of the P in PLURIBUS — providing independent authentication markers on both sides of the coin that can confirm this specific die pairing regardless of the doubling's visibility. These die gouges represent incidental defects in the working die surface, distinct from the hub doubling event itself, and their consistent presence across all specimens struck from this die pair makes them invaluable for attribution. Collectors examining 1949 Jefferson nickels should first check for the die gouges to identify the correct die, then inspect LIBERTY and the date under 10-15x magnification for the pivoted displacement characteristic of Class V doubling.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die gouge to left of I of IN.
• Reverse: Die gouge to left of P of PLURIBUS.

External References