2016 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-017

Description

Seventeenth in the Wexler reverse doubled die sequence for the 2016 Jefferson nickel, WDDR-017 displays Class VIII (Tilted Hub) doubling below the upper portion of the door frame on the center door above the steps of Monticello. The persistence of Class VIII doubling in this specific Monticello doorway zone across multiple years of the Return to Monticello series suggests a systematic vulnerability in the hubbing process for this design — the fine architectural lines of the center doorframe apparently serve as sensitive indicators of even minor hub-to-die angular misalignment during die production. The reverse die carries a distinctive diagnostic: a circular mark on the upper portion of the center door, providing an independent die identification point that separates this working die from other 2016 reverse dies. No significant obverse markers were recorded. Felix Schlag's Monticello design, refined by Jamie Franki for the 2006 return, positions the Palladian portico with its six columns and central pediment as the focal point of the reverse, creating a composition where the symmetrical architectural framework makes any asymmetric doubling displacement more readily apparent. Philadelphia produced approximately 1.51 billion nickels in 2016, sustaining the high production volumes that characterize modern nickel manufacturing. The circular mark on the center door may have originated from die polishing, a trapped foreign particle, or a small die chip — regardless of its origin, it provides a reliable secondary diagnostic. Collectors should use 15-20x magnification focused on the doorframe crossbar above the steps, looking for a displaced secondary image below the primary design element, then verify the circular mark on the center door to confirm the specific die.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Circular mark on upper portion of center door.

External References