1939 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-020

Description

A Class II distorted hub doubling on the 1939 Jefferson Nickel from the Philadelphia Mint, the WDDR-020 shows doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and FIVE CENTS — a broad distribution across the reverse legend. Class II doubling results from the hub flexing during the die-making impression, creating distortion rather than the clean separation seen in Class I rotational doubling. The variety also exhibits Type I steps, which appear as shelf-like ledges on affected design elements. This coin was struck using the Doubled Monticello reverse — a recognized die characteristic of certain 1939 Jefferson Nickel dies where Felix Schlag's Monticello building shows doubled architectural details. Two diagnostic die markers aid in attribution: on the obverse, a heavy die gouge runs through the letters WE, while on the reverse, a die gouge appears below the second T and E of STATES. The heavy gouge through WE is particularly useful as a quick identification marker, as die gouges of this intensity are visible under low magnification. As the twentieth documented doubled die reverse for the 1939 date — only the second year of the Jefferson Nickel series that replaced the Buffalo Nickel in 1938 — this variety contributes to a substantial doubled die population for the early Jefferson Nickel production years.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Heavy die gouge through WE.
• Reverse: Die gouge below second T and E of STATES.  Type I steps.

External References