2012 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Representing the modern "Return to Monticello" Jefferson nickel design introduced in 2006 with Jamie Franki's forward-facing portrait of Jefferson, WDDO-002 documents Class VIII tilted hub doubling on the right side of Jefferson's nose. Class VIII doubling is among the less commonly encountered hub-doubling mechanisms — the working hub tilts along an axis during die sinking, causing one side of the design to receive a slightly deeper impression than the other, which manifests as visible doubling along the edge where the tilt effect is most pronounced. The right side of Jefferson's nose serves as the diagnostic zone, where the tilt creates a secondary profile line or thickening that distinguishes the doubled die from normal strike variation. No significant die markers were noted on either the obverse or reverse, placing the attribution burden entirely on the nose doubling character. Philadelphia produced approximately 679.8 million nickels in 2012, a modern output level that generates enormous numbers of working dies. Class VIII doubling on a portrait element rather than inscriptional text is relatively unusual in die variety catalogs, which are dominated by lettering-based diagnostics. The forward-facing portrait introduced in 2006 provides different doubling geometry than Felix Schlag's classic profile portrait, since the bilateral symmetry of the full-face design means tilted hub effects manifest along the nose's vertical axis rather than along the profile silhouette. Collectors should examine the right nostril and nasal ridge under magnification for the telltale secondary contour.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: None noted.

External References