1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-031

Description

Thirty-first in the extensive Wexler obverse doubled die census for the 1962 Jefferson nickel, WDDO-031 presents close Class II (Distorted Hub) doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST — the motto that runs along the left obverse rim of Felix Schlag's leftward-facing Jefferson portrait. Class II doubling originates from a distortion within the working hub itself rather than a simple rotational misalignment, producing displacement patterns that can vary in direction across different areas of the die. The close classification indicates the primary and secondary impressions nearly overlap, generating thickened letter strokes and subtle notching rather than widely separated doubled images. Obverse die markers provide distinctive secondary diagnostics: a die dot sits in the field to the left of Jefferson's lips, and a second die dot appears in the field to the left of his chin. These die dots — small raised points on struck coins resulting from tiny depressions in the die surface — offer reliable identification checkpoints independent of the doubling itself. No significant reverse die markers were recorded. Philadelphia struck approximately 100.6 million nickels in 1962, a moderate production year in the pre-shortage era before the massive mintage increases of 1964-65. The high WDDO number — thirty-one — reflects the depth of obverse doubled die documentation for 1962 Jefferson nickels, a date that has received thorough variety scrutiny from the collecting community. Collectors should first locate the two die dots flanking Jefferson's profile to confirm the correct die, then examine IN GOD WE TRUST under 15-20x magnification for the characteristic thickened letterforms of close Class II doubling, paying particular attention to the curved letters G, O, and D where hub distortion effects are often most visible.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die dot in field to left of Jefferson's lips; die dot in field to left of his chin.
• Reverse: None noted.

External References