1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-030

Description

Formerly listed as WDDO-068 before being reassigned, this 1962 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel doubled die obverse replaced the original WDDO-030 listing which was delisted because the doubling was too minor to warrant catalog inclusion — a renumbering that illustrates the ongoing refinement of die variety catalogs as attribution standards evolve. Close Class II distorted hub doubling shows on WE TRUST, and the die markers include a slanted die scratch to the lower left of the L of LIBERTY on the obverse. The reverse die is identified as the same die used for 1962 5c WDDR-027, establishing a die-pair connection between this doubled die obverse and a separately cataloged doubled die reverse — meaning specimens from this die pair carry doubling on both sides. Class II doubling results from a slight physical distortion of the hub during the hubbing process, creating an asymmetric displacement pattern where the spread varies in direction and magnitude across different areas of the die. The 1962 Jefferson Nickel was produced during the final years before the Mint suspended proof production and changed coinage compositions. Thirty documented DDOs for a single date of Jefferson Nickel demonstrates the extraordinary depth of die variety research on this long-running series, and the cataloging history of this particular variety — from WDDO-068 to WDDO-030 — reveals the curatorial processes that keep die variety databases accurate and current.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Slanted die scratch to lower left of L of LIBERTY.
• Reverse: Listed as 1962 5c WDDR-027.

External References