1970-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Primary doubled die obverse for the 1970-S Jefferson Nickel, DDO-001 shows medium spread on IN GOD WE TRUST combined with rotational spread on the letters IN, the lower front of Jefferson's coat, and Felix Schlag's designer initials FS. The medium spread on the motto provides the most readily identifiable diagnostic, while the rotational components on IN, the coat, and the initials trace the arc of the pivot-point misalignment across different obverse zones. San Francisco struck these as business strike nickels, and die markers UVC-1371 and DMR-014 distinguish this die from the DDO-002 die which shows similar rotational characteristics but at a lighter intensity level. As DDO-001, this carries the primary designation — the first and typically most significant doubled die obverse documented for the date and mint. The rotational element is mechanistically significant: it indicates the hub pivoted around a fixed point relative to the die during hubbing, producing spread that increases with distance from the pivot center. The designer initials FS, located near Jefferson's shoulder on the obverse, are small enough that rotational spread there may be difficult to detect without adequate magnification, but their involvement helps map the full geometry of the hub misalignment. Medium classification means the doubling should be visible to collectors with basic magnification equipment.

Die Markers

• UVC-1371; DMR-014

External References