1935 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as DDR-004 with cross-references UVC-245 and DMR-006, this 1935 Buffalo nickel displays strong northwest spread that is most dramatically visible as an extra horizontal bar beneath the L of PLURIBUS on the reverse. Hub doubling of this magnitude — where a secondary impression is displaced far enough to create a distinct additional design element — places DDR-004 among the more visually appealing doubled die reverses in the Buffalo nickel series. Three die stages have been documented: Stage A in early die state, where the doubling is sharpest and the extra bar under the L shows maximum definition; Stage B at mid-die state, where accumulated wear begins to soften the secondary impression; and Stage C at late die state, where both primary and secondary images show advanced deterioration. The 1935 Philadelphia Buffalo nickel had a mintage of 58.2 million pieces, though only a portion were struck from the DDR-004 die pair. Collectors examining 1935 nickels should focus magnification on the L of PLURIBUS, where the extra horizontal bar — parallel to and below the letter's base — serves as the quickest diagnostic for this variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-245
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lewis Fletcher
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References