1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Formerly listed as WDDO-039 before being elevated to replace the original WDDO-001 (which was delisted for being too minor), this Class II doubled die obverse appears on a 1963 proof Jefferson nickel. The Jefferson nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter, and the Philadelphia Mint produced 3,075,645 proof sets in 1963, the highest proof production figure up to that time. The Class II (distorted hub) doubling shows on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the five-pointed star on Felix Schlag's obverse portrait of Thomas Jefferson. The fact that this variety replaced the original WDDO-001 listing demonstrates the Wexler cataloging system's practice of periodically reassigning primary numbers when more significant varieties are discovered that warrant higher visibility in the catalog sequence. Obverse die markers include a die dot on the upper front portion of Jefferson's collar and another die dot on Jefferson's temple, both small but definitive features unique to this particular die. On the reverse, die gouges between the upper portions of the third and fourth columns of Monticello provide confirmation of the die pairing. The 1963 date is the second-to-last year of proof production at Philadelphia before the Mint suspended proof coin production from 1965 through 1967 during the coinage shortage crisis that led to the elimination of silver from dimes and quarters and the introduction of clad coinage. Proof Jefferson nickels from 1963, with their mirror fields and frosted devices, are among the most visually appealing canvases for doubled die variety display, as the high-quality surfaces make even subtle hub doubling more readily apparent than on business strikes. The promotion of this variety from WDDO-039 to WDDO-001 reflects its standing as the most noteworthy doubled die obverse for the 1963 proof date.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die dot on upper front portion of Jefferson's collar; die dot on Jefferson's temple.
• Reverse: Die gouges between upper portions of third and fourth columns.

External References