1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-051

Description

Bearing the high sequence number 051 — attesting to the prolific doubled die production among proof Jefferson Nickels of the early 1960s — the 1962 WDDO-051 displays Class II distorted hub doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST on Felix Schlag's obverse. Class II doubling arises from hub distortion rather than simple lateral or rotational displacement, producing non-uniform spread across the affected inscription. The high catalog number for a single date reflects the intensive examination proof coins receive: mirror fields and sharp design elements make even subtle doubling more detectable than on business strikes. Two die markers aid attribution: a die gouge below the left side of E in WE on the obverse, and a slanted die scratch above the small left window of Monticello on the reverse. These markers provide confirmation independent of the doubling and help differentiate WDDO-051 from the fifty other cataloged doubled die obverses for 1962. As a proof issue, this coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on polished planchets in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.0 grams. Examine IN GOD WE TRUST for the Class II doubling, confirm the die gouge below E of WE, and verify the slanted scratch above the small left window on the reverse.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die gouge below left side of E of WE.
• Reverse: Slanted die scratch above small left window.

External References