1931-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Cataloged as DDR-001 in the VarietyVista attribution system (UVC-125, DMR-002), this 1931-S Buffalo Nickel exhibits extra thickness across the legends UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM as the primary doubling expression. Three die stages have been documented for this variety. Stage A represents early die state, though its specific diagnostics remain unconfirmed. Stage B is the most clearly defined stage, identified by a die crack running north from the buffalo's head toward the U of UNITED on the reverse, with the obverse also at mid-die state. Stage C represents late die state but its diagnostics remain unconfirmed. The UVC-125 and DMR-002 codes serve as die markers for attributing individual specimens and tracking die progression across the population. The 1931-S Buffalo Nickel is itself a key date coin with a mintage of only 1,200,000, making its die varieties particularly sought after by specialists in the series. The reverse legend doubling on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA provides the primary visual diagnostic and is best examined across the full spread of letters under magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-125
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack North from buffalo's head to U of UNITED – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines.
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References