1936-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Struck in the final year of the Buffalo Nickel series, DDO-001 on the 1936-S issue presents medium extra thickness on LIBERTY and the date — a doubling pattern where the displaced image sits almost directly atop the primary impression, producing bolder-than-normal letter strokes rather than a clearly separated spread. The Buffalo Nickel's distinctive incuse date and LIBERTY, recessed into the field rather than raised above it, make doubled die detection uniquely challenging on this type: the incuse cavity must show thickened walls on both sides of each affected element. Cataloged as UVC-234 with DMR-011, the variety has been documented at Stage A in early die state, with Stage B (mid-die state) and Stage C (late die state) both unconfirmed. The 1936-S represents the penultimate issue before the series ended in 1938, produced at the San Francisco Mint alongside Philadelphia and Denver strikes. James Earle Fraser's iconic design — the composite Native American portrait and standing bison — was in its twenty-fourth and final full year of production. Attributed by VarietyVista.

Die Markers

• UVC-234
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tony Russo
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References