1930 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Medium spread directed rightward on E PLURI of PLURIBUS, UN of UNUM, and the center of the left rear leg identifies this 1930 Buffalo nickel as DDR-003, cross-referenced as FS-803 in the Fivaz-Stanton Cherry Picker's Guide. The FS listing elevates this variety above typical minor DDR entries, as inclusion in the Cherry Picker's Guide signifies sufficient collector demand and market recognition to warrant dedicated catalog space. VarietyVista assigned the variety UVC-113 with die markers reference DMR-010, tracking a three-stage progression where all three stages (A through C at EDS, MDS, and LDS) remain unconfirmed, and VarietyVista's notation indicates a need to examine specimens for digital photographs and die state information. The doubling on the left rear leg of the American bison is a particularly compelling diagnostic because it creates an extra contour line on the animal's anatomy, making the error visible even on moderately circulated specimens where legend doubling might be obscured by wear. James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel design (1913-1938) features one of the most three-dimensional reverse compositions in U.S. coinage, with the standing bison presenting thick legs, a heavy torso, and a shaggy head that create multiple surfaces susceptible to hub doubling. Philadelphia struck 22.8 million nickels in 1930, a Depression-era mintage that was sharply lower than pre-crash production levels. DDR-003 with its FS-803 cross-reference occupies a position of prominence within the Buffalo nickel variety census, and the medium spread on the animal's leg adds a dimension of visual interest that purely legend-based DDR varieties cannot match.

Die Markers

• UVC-113
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Leroy Van Allen
• FS-803
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References