1981-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Personally attributed by John A. Wexler, the 1981-D Jefferson Nickel WDDR-001 holds the distinction of a "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Variety — recognition reserved for the most visually significant entries in the Jefferson series. Struck at Denver in 75% copper and 25% nickel, this Class II plus Class VI doubled die reverse — Distorted and Distended Hub Doubling — shows a strong spread toward the center on E PLURIBUS UNUM, both sides of Monticello, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and slightly on FIVE CENTS. This variety is known to appear in Mint Sets, an accessible hunting ground for collectors working from original government packaging. Three precise reverse die markers anchor attribution: a die scratch from the center of the U in UNITED running southeast to the rim; a strong diagonal die scratch in the upper left corner of the long right window of Monticello; and a strong die scratch running south-southwest from the roof to just right of the top of the fourth column. The UNITED STATES and PLURIBUS spread is robust enough to identify at low magnification, making this one of the more accessible "Best Of" varieties to cherrypick in circulation or in Mint Sets.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Wexler Variety ID: 1981-D WDDR-001 "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Varieties
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References