1939 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-014

Description

Carrying a Class II, Distorted Hub Doubling classification, this 1939 Jefferson nickel obverse shows doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST as the primary feature, with very slight secondary doubling detectable on LIBERTY, the star, and the date. The strong-versus-subtle contrast between the motto doubling and the peripheral design elements is characteristic of distorted hub varieties where the maximum displacement occurs near the center of the die face and tapers toward the rim. Obverse die markers include a series of die scratches below LI of LIBERTY and a die scratch below the star. On the reverse, a die scratch cuts through TS of CENTS, another runs above the M of MONTICELLO, and a die bump sits to the lower right of the first O of MONTICELLO. The reverse also displays Type I steps on Monticello, a diagnostic feature distinguishing the fully struck step configuration from the less detailed Type II steps found on other dies. The 1939 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel had a mintage of 120.627 million pieces, the second year of the series. The Type I steps notation is significant for Jefferson nickel specialists who track step configurations alongside variety designations, as the intersection of a doubled die with a full-steps reverse adds collectibility from two distinct specialization communities simultaneously.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Series die scratches below LI of LIBERTY; die scratch below star.
• Reverse: Die scratch through TS of CENTS; die scratch above M of MONTICELLO; die bump to lower right of first O of MONTICELLO.  Type I steps.

External References