1949-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Class II distorted hub doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM, increasing progressively from left to right, with additional doubling on AMERICA, distinguishes this first-cataloged doubled die reverse for the 1949-D Jefferson Nickel. The progressive left-to-right intensification indicates a tilting or rotational component to the hub misalignment, producing stronger doubling on the right side of the reverse where the displacement was greatest. Detailed die markers assist attribution: the obverse shows a slanted die scratch below RT of LIBERTY and a die dot below N of IN, while the reverse carries a die scratch above the small right window and two slanted die scratches above the second S of STATES. The 1949-D Jefferson Nickel was struck at Denver during the post-war period when nickel production had returned to standard copper-nickel composition after the wartime silver alloy years of 1942-1945. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse, with its detailed architectural rendering of Jefferson's Virginia home, provides multiple attribution points where the increasing Class II spread can be measured. As WDDR-001, this holds the primary position in the 1949-D doubled die reverse catalog, suggesting it was either the first discovered or the most visually prominent DDR for this date-mint combination.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Slanted die scratch below RT of LIBERTY; die dot below N of IN.
• Reverse: Die scratch above small right window; two slanted die scratches above second S of STATES.

External References