1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-008

Description

Eighth in the obverse doubled die census for the inaugural 1938 Jefferson nickel, DDO-008 exhibits strong spread on LIBERTY, the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the profile of Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait — a comprehensive doubling event affecting virtually every major obverse element on the first-year-of-issue nickel design. VarietyVista assigned identifiers UVC-588 and DMR-010, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where both obverse and reverse surfaces show mid die state characteristics, and Stage C where both have progressed to late die state. The MDS and LDS confirmations for Stages B and C provide documented die state data points for collector reference. Cross-referenced as FS-106 in the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, this variety carries the authoritative Fivaz-Stanton attribution that places it among the recognized significant varieties for the date. The 1938 Jefferson nickel replaced the Buffalo nickel design, with Felix Schlag winning a public design competition to create the new obverse portrait and Monticello reverse — the only circulating coin design in American history selected through open competition. Philadelphia struck approximately 19.52 million nickels in 1938, a first-year mintage that collectors have intensively studied for varieties, driving the DDO census to at least eight documented entries. The strong spread designation, combined with the breadth of affected design elements spanning inscriptions, the date, and the portrait itself, makes DDO-008 one of the more visually dramatic obverse doubled dies in the Jefferson nickel's inaugural production year. Collectors should examine LIBERTY and the date under moderate magnification where the strong spread produces clearly displaced secondary images, and compare against the FS-106 reference photographs in the Cherrypickers' Guide for attribution confirmation.

Die Markers

• UVC-588
• DMR-010
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Gary B. Shaffstall
• FS-106
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References