1938 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Sixth in the documented family of first-year Jefferson Nickel doubled die obverses, WDDO-006 captures another hub misalignment from the 1938 Philadelphia Mint die shop — the same facility that was simultaneously introducing Felix Schlag's newly adopted design to the coining press floor. Attributed by Lou Coles and cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1938 WDDO-006, this variety emerges from the same inaugural production run that generated WDDO-007 and at least five other documented DDOs. The 1938 Jefferson Nickel's total mintage of 19,515,365 was modest compared to later years, yet the die population required to produce those coins — combined with the learning curve inherent in manufacturing dies from a brand-new design — appears to have generated a disproportionate number of hub misalignment events. New designs can be particularly susceptible to hubbing errors because the die shop is still calibrating the precise pressures, annealing temperatures, and positioning protocols for the unfamiliar design geometry. Coles's attribution of both WDDO-006 and WDDO-007 suggests this researcher systematically examined the 1938 DDO population and documented multiple varieties within it. Schlag's obverse portrait positions Jefferson's left-facing profile with LIBERTY above, the date below, and IN GOD WE TRUST along the left margin — all elements that serve as diagnostic checkpoints for doubled die examination. No additional die markers have been published, so attribution proceeds through the doubling pattern alone. The standard 75% copper, 25% nickel composition at 5.0 grams and 21.21mm diameter applies to all 1938 nickels. First-year varieties carry inherent collector interest as artifacts from the design's debut, and WDDO-006 offers that appeal alongside the numismatic challenge of distinguishing it within a seven-or-more-member DDO family.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lou Coles
• Wexler Variety ID: 1938 WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Lou Coles

External References