1939 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Felix Schlag won the design competition for the Jefferson nickel in 1938, and by 1939 — the series' second year — the Philadelphia Mint had produced approximately 120.6 million nickels, among which DDO-004 documents a light obverse hub doubling. Spread appears on LIBERTY, the star, and the date, matching the common pattern for Jefferson nickel DDOs where these three obverse elements cluster in the zone most susceptible to hub misalignment. VarietyVista assigns UVC-612 and die marriage reference DMR-008. Notably, the reverse die paired with this obverse is identified as RDV-002, the "Straight Steps" variant — a reverse die variety distinguished by the configuration of the steps leading to Monticello's entrance. The step geometry of Monticello has been a focal point for Jefferson nickel collectors since the series' inception, with "full step" designations commanding significant premiums, and the Straight Steps reverse represents a specific die variety within that discussion. Light spread on LIBERTY and the date numerals provides the diagnostic entry point for this variety, while the star's radiating points can confirm the direction and character of the doubling. The RDV-002 reverse pairing gives attributors an additional confirmation path, as the Straight Steps reverse narrows the pool of possible die marriages.

Die Markers

• UVC-612; DMR-008

External References