1949-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Brian A. Ribar attributed this Class II distorted hub doubling on the 1949-S Jefferson nickel, where close spread is visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES — the upper reverse inscription band on the Monticello design. The Wexler catalog reference is 1949-S WDDR-003. The obverse die is itself a separately listed variety — cataloged as 1949-S 5 cents WDDO-001 — making this a combination DDO/DDR die pairing where both the obverse and reverse dies carry independent hub doubling events, a convergence that variety collectors prize for its dual-diagnostic interest. Reverse die markers include a series of die scratches through FIVE, die scratches in the right arch and above the right roof of Monticello, and die scratches inside both the long and small windows — an extensive field of surface marks providing robust attribution evidence. An additional note indicates a possible repunched mintmark (RPM), which if confirmed would elevate this to a triple-variety specimen: DDO obverse, DDR reverse, and RPM. The 1949-S Jefferson nickel was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.0 grams, with a mintage of approximately 11.6 million pieces — a relatively modest output that used fewer working dies than Philadelphia production. The Class II distorted hub mechanism indicates slight physical changes in the hub between successive die impressions, and the close spread on PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES shows the distortion predominantly affected the peripheral inscription band where the hub-to-die contact geometry is most sensitive to small dimensional changes.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1949-S WDDR-003
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References