2020 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-014

Description

Discovered by Brian Sims and cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 2020-P WDDR-014, this Jefferson Nickel reverse variety belongs to the Return to Monticello series that resumed Felix Schlag's iconic facade design in 2006 after the Westward Journey program. The doubling is classified as Class VIII (Tilted Hub Doubling), a mechanism where the working hub tilts slightly during impression, producing offset that varies in intensity across the die face depending on the tilt axis and angle. On this particular die, the Class VIII effect manifests below the right upper portion of the door frame on the center door above the steps of Monticello, creating a subtle but measurable secondary image in that architectural detail. Obverse die markers include a die gouge to the upper left of the B in LIBERTY, while the reverse carries a die crack in the field to the left of the building along with a series of short die scratches in the left corner of the triangle above the center door. These markers provide independent confirmation beyond the doubling itself, allowing collectors to authenticate specimens even when the Class VIII tilt produces only moderate separation. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in standard copper-nickel composition — 75% copper and 25% nickel — with a weight of 5.0 grams and a diameter of 21.2 mm, this modern Jefferson Nickel variety rewards careful examination of the Monticello doorway area under 7x to 10x magnification where the tilted hub offset concentrates its strongest effect.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Sims
• Wexler Variety ID: 2020-P WDDR-014
• Expert attribution by Brian Sims

External References