1960 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-008

Description

Eighth in the reverse doubled die census for the 1960 Jefferson nickel, WDDR-008 presents Class II (Distorted Hub) doubling with a very close spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM and AMERICA. Class II doubling results from the working hub undergoing slight rotational distortion during the secondary impression, creating a displacement pattern that varies across the die face based on distance from the distortion axis. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse, depicting Thomas Jefferson's Virginia plantation from the front elevation, provides the architectural backdrop for this subtle reverse variety. Two reverse die markers serve as crucial identification aids: a die dot positioned to the right of the small left semicircular window and another die dot to the right of the large center semicircular window on Monticello's facade. These die dots — tiny raised points on struck coins produced by small pits in the die surface — provide die-specific fingerprints that enable positive identification before the collector attempts to evaluate the very close doubled die characteristics. No significant obverse die markers were noted. Philadelphia struck millions of Jefferson nickels in 1960, generating the die consumption necessary for multiple independent hub doubling events to occur across the reverse die inventory. The very close spread classification indicates the secondary hub impression landed extremely near the primary position, producing barely detectable thickening of the AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM letterforms that demands magnification of 20x or greater with carefully positioned lighting to resolve. Eight documented reverse doubled dies for the 1960 date reflects the intensive variety research that Jefferson nickels of the late 1950s and early 1960s have received from specialists. Collectors should first locate both die dots near the Monticello windows to confirm the correct die, then examine the motto and AMERICA under high magnification.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Die dot to right of small left semicircular window; die dot to right of large center semicircular window.

External References