1960 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-018

Description

Originally listed as WDDO-030 before being renumbered, this Class II (Distorted Hub Doubling) doubled die obverse variety carries the designation 1960 WDDO-018 and replaces the original WDDO-018 listing that was delisted because it was too minor. The variety appears on a 1960 Jefferson nickel, part of the Jefferson Nickels Original Design series produced from 1938 through 2003. The Jefferson nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a diameter of 21.2 mm. Class II distorted hub doubling occurs when the hub distorts slightly during the hubbing process, creating a spread that typically affects multiple design elements across the die face. On the renumbered WDDO-018, a close tripled spread is visible on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and IN GOD WE TRUST. The tripling indicates three distinct hub impressions left overlapping traces on these design elements, with each impression slightly offset from the others. Obverse die markers include a small die dot below the B of LIBERTY and a die dot in Jefferson's hair to the upper right of his ear. The reverse carries a die dot to the lower right of the first L of MONTICELLO. The renumbering of this variety from WDDO-030 reflects the ongoing curation process within the Wexler catalog system, where varieties are periodically renumbered as others are delisted for being too minor or reclassified. The 1960 date falls within a period of significant interest to Jefferson nickel variety collectors, as the Philadelphia Mint was producing hundreds of millions of nickels annually, and the multi-squeeze hubbing process of the era generated numerous catalogable doubled die varieties across the series.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Small die dot below B of LIBERTY; die dot in Jefferson's hair to upper right of his ear.
• Reverse: Die dot to lower right of first L of MONTICELLO.

External References