1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Gary G. Wagnon attributed WDDO-006 on the 1971-S Proof Jefferson Nickel, identifying very close Class II Distorted Hub Doubling toward the center on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and designer Felix Schlag's initials FS — four obverse regions where the hub distortion created convergent secondary impressions. What makes this variety particularly notable is its paired reverse: the reverse die is itself a doubled die, listed separately as 1971-S Pr 5c WDDR-006, meaning this die marriage combines both an obverse and a reverse doubled die in a single coin — a dual DDO/DDR pairing that amplifies collector interest substantially. Obverse die markers include die scratches on the rim below the designer's initials FS, providing a confirmatory attribution point for the obverse die. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1971-S WDDO-006 Proof, this variety belongs to the San Francisco proof production that resumed in 1968 after the 1965-1967 proof set suspension. San Francisco's 1971 proof set output provided the nickel specimens from which this variety was identified. The very close Class II spread toward center indicates the hub compressed slightly during a secondary impression, producing doubled images that converge rather than diverge — a displacement direction that creates characteristic "pinched" or "squeezed" letter appearances requiring careful examination under adequate magnification for confident identification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Gary G. Wagnon
• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S WDDO-006 Proof
• Expert attribution by Gary G. Wagnon

External References