1939 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Second in the obverse doubled die census for the 1939 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel, DDO-002 presents medium spread on LIBERTY, the star, and the date. The medium classification positions this variety one step above the light-class DDO-004 for the same date, indicating a more pronounced hub misalignment that created wider separation between primary and secondary impressions. Philadelphia's 1939 nickel output of approximately 120.6 million pieces came during only the second year of Felix Schlag's Jefferson design, when die production processes for the new series were still being refined. VarietyVista documents this as UVC-610 with die marriage reference DMR-006, and the reverse die is identified as RDV-002 — the "Straight Steps" variant, distinguished by the linear configuration of Monticello's entrance steps. Sharing the Straight Steps reverse with DDO-004, DDO-002 establishes that multiple doubled obverse dies were paired with the same reverse die variety during 1939 production. Medium spread on the date provides the strongest visual diagnostic, as the numerals 1-9-3-9 each display a secondary impression with sufficient separation to be confirmed under moderate magnification. The star's pointed tips and the LIBERTY letters offer confirming evidence. Collectors differentiating DDO-002 from other 1939 DDOs should note the medium-versus-light distinction and compare specific die markers recorded in the UVC/DMR references.

Die Markers

• UVC-610; DMR-006

External References