1939 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-009

Description

Ninth in the Wexler doubled die reverse catalog for the 1939 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel, this variety displays Class II Distorted Hub Doubling with very close separation visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM, most pronounced on the letters of UNUM where the serifs and vertical strokes show distinct secondary images. The 1939 issue represents the second year of Felix Schlag's Jefferson Nickel design, which had won a 1938 Treasury competition open to the public. Obverse die markers include a die scratch in Jefferson's hair just above his forehead, while the reverse shows a large die dot between the lower portions of the left windows of Monticello and a slanted die scratch above the second O of MONTICELLO, with the reverse further classified as having Type I steps — the full, sharply defined step detail on Monticello's base that is especially prized by collectors pursuing the "Full Steps" designation. Distorted Hub Doubling occurs when the hub is tilted or rotated during one impression relative to another in the multi-impression hubbing process, and on the Monticello reverse this type of spread tends to affect the lettering and architectural details asymmetrically, with stronger doubling on one side of the design. The die dot between the windows and the scratch above the O serve as reliable attribution markers that distinguish this die from the eight preceding WDDR listings for the 1939 date. Early Jefferson Nickel varieties from 1938 and 1939 have gained collector attention as foundation years of the series.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die scratch in Jefferson's hair just above his forehead.
• Reverse: Large die dot between lower portion of left windows; slanted die scratch above second O of MONTICELLO.  Type I steps.

External References