2017 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-005

Description

Exhibiting Class VIII tilted hub doubling on the reverse of a 2017 Jefferson Nickel, WDDR-005 shows the doubling effect below the upper right portion of the door frame on the center door above the steps of Monticello. Class VIII doubling occurs when the hub tilts during the impression process, creating a rocking motion that produces spread concentrated in specific areas rather than distributed uniformly across the die face. The Monticello reverse, restored to the Jefferson Nickel in 2006 after the two-year Westward Journey series (2004-2005), features the architectural detail of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate with its distinctive columns, dome, and stairway — elements that provide numerous reference points for detecting subtle doubling. Die markers support attribution: the obverse carries a short die gouge at the rim above the N of IN, while the reverse displays two short slanted die gouges at the rim to the lower right of the D of UNITED. These die-specific imperfections formed during the die's working life and serve as fingerprints confirming this particular reverse die. The Return to Monticello design, rendered by Jamie Franki, refined Felix Schlag's original 1938 reverse while maintaining the iconic building facade. Five doubled die reverses documented for the 2017-P nickel represents a moderate count consistent with Philadelphia's production volume for this denomination. The tilted hub mechanism can be particularly subtle on architectural designs like Monticello, where the geometric regularity of building elements makes even slight displacement diagnostically significant when compared to a normal strike under magnification.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Short die gouge at rim above N of IN.
• Reverse: Two short slanted die gouges at rim to lower right of D of UNITED.

External References