1957 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-017

Description

Attributed by Brian A. Ribar as a Class II Distorted Hub Doubling variety, the 1957 Proof Jefferson Nickel WDDO-017 displays close Class II doubling on LIBERTY, the star, and the date — three separate design elements that each show the characteristic distortion pattern of this doubling class. Class II doubling results from a tilted or pivoted hub during the die-making process, producing a rotational distortion that manifests as a spreading or fanning effect across the die surface rather than the uniform directional shift seen in Class I varieties. Die markers for attribution include a long vertical die scratch on Jefferson's collar on the obverse, and two die dots to the right of the E of E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse. Cross-referenced under Wexler Variety ID: 1957 WDDO-017 Proof, the proof designation confirms this die was used in the specialized proof coining operation at the Philadelphia Mint, where coins were struck on polished planchets with polished dies for sale to collectors. Proof Jefferson Nickels of the 1950s are among the most actively collected proof series, and doubled die varieties on proof coins carry particular appeal because the mirror-like surfaces make even subtle doubling more visible than on frosty business strikes. Felix Schlag's original Jefferson portrait, in use from 1938 through 2004, provided the obverse design from which LIBERTY, the star, and the date — the three affected elements — derive. The identification of seventeen doubled die obverses for a single proof-year demonstrates the frequency with which hubbing anomalies occurred even in the controlled proof die production environment.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1957 WDDO-017 Proof
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References