1955-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-012

Description

Close Class II distorted hub doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA characterizes this twelfth documented doubled die reverse for the 1955 Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel. Attributed by Brian A. Ribar under Wexler Variety ID 1955-D WDDR-012, the obverse carries two slanted die scratches to the upper left of the 1 of the date and a die scratch below the G of GOD, while the reverse shows a wavy die gouge inside the left arch of Monticello. Class II doubling results from distortion within the hub itself — a warping or bending of the hub surface that transfers asymmetric design impressions to the die — producing spread that follows design contours rather than showing uniform directional displacement. The 1955-D Jefferson Nickel is forever linked to the famous 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent, but Denver's nickel production that year generated its own variety research, with twelve DDR varieties documented to date. The Monticello reverse design, with its detailed architectural rendering of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home, provides particularly good reference points for detecting Class II doubling — the arch details, window elements, and inscription lettering all serve as diagnostic surfaces. The wavy die gouge inside the left arch is a distinctive reverse marker that helps confirm this specific die, and the combination of obverse die scratches near the date and GOD provides a strong attribution cluster for die pairing verification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1955-D WDDR-012
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References