1957 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Attributed by John A. Wexler under the designation WDDO-009, this ninth doubled die obverse for the 1957 Jefferson Nickel proof exhibits Class II distorted hub doubling — a mechanism where the hub tilts or shifts during one of the multiple impressions required to sink a working die, producing a subtle but diagnostic spread across design elements. The close Class II doubling shows on LIBERTY, the five-pointed star between LIBERTY and the date, and the date digits themselves, creating a distribution pattern that spans the left and lower portions of Felix Schlag's obverse portrait. Die markers aid attribution: a series of die dots below Jefferson's left nostril on the obverse and a die gouge below UN of UNITED on the reverse serve as secondary diagnostics that fingerprint this specific die pair. The 1957 proof nickel was struck at Philadelphia during an era when proof sets were gaining popularity among collectors — annual proof set sales had been climbing steadily since their resumption in 1950 after a wartime hiatus. Class II distorted hub doubling differs from the more dramatic Class I rotated hub doubling in that the distortion is typically more subtle, requiring magnification to fully appreciate, and the spread direction may vary across different areas of the design depending on the geometry of the hub's tilt. Nine doubled die obverses documented for the 1957 proof Jefferson Nickel testifies to the depth of variety research on this proof-only date, where the controlled striking environment preserves fine die characteristics that might be obliterated on business strikes.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Wexler Variety ID: 1957 WDDO-009 Proof
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References