1981-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with Universal Variety Code UVC-1463 and Die Marriage Record DMR-004, the 1981-D Jefferson Nickel DDR-002 exhibits a multi-level doubling distribution across the reverse: strong spread appears on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM, while medium spread shows on FIVE CENTS, the M of MONTICELLO, and the last O of MONTICELLO. This tiered intensity pattern — strong on the upper inscriptions, medium on the lower denomination and building name — is consistent with a hub displacement geometry where the maximum angular offset occurs at the periphery of the die (affecting the rim-adjacent inscriptions most) while diminishing toward the center. Die stage documentation tracks three phases: Stage A finds both reverse and obverse in Early-to-Mid Die State, Stage B at Mid Die State (unconfirmed), and Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed). The EMDS starting point for the documented stages suggests that the earliest strikes from this die pair have not yet been identified, or that the die entered service already showing some wear characteristics. The 1981-D Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Denver Mint in copper-nickel alloy (75% Cu, 25% Ni) at 5.0 grams and 21.2 mm diameter. As the second cataloged DDR for the 1981-D date, DDR-002 belongs to a period of Jefferson Nickel production that has yielded significant variety documentation. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse, with its architectural detail and surrounding inscriptions, provides the multi-zone design field where the strong-to-medium spread gradient manifests across this doubled die reverse variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-1463
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EMDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References