1936-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

James Earle Fraser's Buffalo nickel — featuring a composite Native American portrait on the obverse and a standing American bison on the reverse — produced this Class VI doubled die reverse at the Denver Mint in 1936, two years before the series concluded in 1938. Class VI doubling in the Wexler classification system results from distortion during the die sinking process, producing extra thickness rather than directional spread. On WDDR-001, this extra thickness manifests on USA, the abbreviation for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the reverse. Cross-referenced as CONECA 1-R-VI and Wexler Variety ID: 1936-D 5¢ WDDR-001, this variety holds the primary doubled die reverse designation for the date-mint combination. Denver struck approximately 24.8 million Buffalo nickels in 1936, a healthy mintage that reflected the recovering economy's growing demand for circulating coinage. No significant die markers were recorded on either the obverse or reverse beyond the doubled die characteristic itself. As WDDR-001, this represents the first and presumably most notable reversed doubled die cataloged for the 1936-D Buffalo nickel, establishing it as a benchmark variety for the date. Class VI extra thickness on the USA letters requires careful comparison against known undoubled examples, as the distortion produces subtler visual evidence than the directional spread characteristic of Class I through Class V doubled dies. The Buffalo nickel's recessed reverse design, with its relatively low-relief lettering, can make extra thickness varieties particularly challenging to detect without proper reference material and lighting technique.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Larry Briggs Cross References: CONECA: 1-R-VI
• CONECA: 1-R-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1936-D 5¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References