1957 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-013

Description

With a very close Class II Distorted Hub Doubling spread visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM and AMERICA, this thirteenth documented doubled die reverse for the 1957 Jefferson Nickel captures a subtle hubbing anomaly from the twentieth year of Felix Schlag's original Monticello design. Class II doubling occurs when the working hub experiences slight distortion between impressions during die sinking, producing non-uniform displacement that manifests as close spread on design lettering. The "very close" characterization indicates that the doubling separation is minimal — requiring magnification to detect — but diagnostically present and attributable. Die markers on the obverse include die gouges in Jefferson's hair to the right of his temple, while the reverse shows die scratches inside the large semicircular window and a die scratch to the right of the small center semicircular window of Monticello — the detailed architectural rendering of Jefferson's Virginia estate that has served as the nickel's reverse since 1938. These secondary die markers provide attribution confidence beyond the subtle doubling itself. The 1957 Philadelphia Mint nickel was produced in a mintage of approximately 38.4 million pieces, a moderate output that was supplemented by Denver's higher-volume production. Thirteen doubled die reverse varieties for this date reflects thorough examination by Jefferson Nickel variety specialists who scrutinize the Monticello design's architectural details and surrounding inscriptions for evidence of hub doubling.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die gouges in Jefferson's hair to right of his temple.
• Reverse: Die scratches inside large semicircular window, die scratch to right of small center semicircular window.

External References