1959 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

The second documented doubled die reverse for the 1959 Philadelphia Jefferson Nickel, DDR-002 exhibits light spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA with the displacement increasing progressively from left to right — the characteristic gradient pattern of Class V pivoted hub doubling. Die markers UVC-976 and DMR-005 confirm this working die. The progressive intensification means the U of UNITED shows the least offset while the final A of AMERICA displays the most, providing a built-in verification gradient that distinguishes genuine hub doubling from machine doubling or strike artifacts, which would produce uniform displacement. UVC-976's proximity to UVC-974 (DDO-001 for the same date) places both varieties close in the cataloging sequence, though they represent entirely different working dies — one obverse, one reverse — with independent doubling events. The 1959 nickel was struck in standard copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel) at the Philadelphia Mint, during the same year the Lincoln Memorial cent debuted across the denomination aisle. Felix Schlag's reverse positions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in an arc above Monticello, where the progressive left-to-right spread manifests most clearly on the vertical letter strokes. Light intensity means the increasing spread requires systematic examination under at least 5x magnification, beginning at the rightward letters where the displacement is strongest and confirming the gradient by tracing back toward the left.

Die Markers

• UVC-976; DMR-005

External References