1959-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-008

Description

Brian A. Ribar discovered this Class V pivoted hub doubling variety on the 1959-D Jefferson nickel, cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1959-D WDDR-008. The Class V mechanism produces doubling through a rotational pivot between hub impressions, and on this reverse die, the resulting spread appears on STATES OF AMERICA and UNUM, with the strongest expression on AMERICA. Class V is distinguished from Class II by the nature of the pivot: Class V involves the hub rotating around a point on the die face, producing a curved displacement pattern rather than the angular tilt characteristic of Class II varieties. Die markers on the obverse include a die dot to the left of Jefferson's forehead. Reverse diagnostics feature a slanted die scratch positioned between the lower portions of the S and T in STATES, plus a die scratch visible inside the lower portion of the B in PLURIBUS. The 1959-D Jefferson nickel was the inaugural year of the Memorial cent reverse on the companion Lincoln series, but the nickel design remained unchanged, continuing Felix Schlag's original 1938 Monticello composition. Denver produced 160.7 million nickels that year, a substantial mintage that nonetheless represents a defined die pool from which WDDR-008 emerged as a single die pair's contribution. The pivoted hub doubling mechanism on AMERICA, where the spread is strongest, provides a satisfying visual confirmation under moderate magnification, as the letters at the end of the word sit farthest from the rotation's pivot point and therefore show the most pronounced displacement from the primary image.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1959-D WDDR-008
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References