1968-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-015

Description

Cataloged as DDO-015 by VarietyVista, this 1968-S Jefferson nickel displays a medium spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the five-pointed star, the date, and the designer's initials FS (for Felix Schlag). The coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint in the standard 75% copper and 25% nickel composition, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter. Tracked under Universal Variety Code UVC-1337 and Die Marker Reference DMR-021, the die progresses through three documented states: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed); Stage B at mid die state where the obverse is at MDS and a small die gouge appears above the B of PLURIBUS on the reverse; and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The medium strength of the doubling spread across multiple design elements makes this variety identifiable without extreme magnification, though careful comparison against the die markers is recommended for definitive attribution. This variety belongs to the Jefferson Nickels Original Design 1938-2003 series. The 1968 date marks the resumption of mintmark use after the three-year hiatus from 1965 to 1967 imposed by the Coinage Act of 1965, and the S mintmark was placed on the obverse below the date. The San Francisco Mint had transitioned primarily to proof production by this era, though some business strike nickels were also produced there in 1968.

Die Markers

• UVC-1337
• DMR-021
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Small die gouge above B of PLURIBUS – MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References