1939 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Appearing on the scarce "Reverse of 1940" subtype of the 1939 Jefferson Nickel, this DDR-003 exhibits strong extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, and ELLO of MONTICELLO — an unusually broad distribution of doubling affecting nearly every major reverse inscription. The reverse is confirmed as RDV-002, the Straight Steps variety, which differs from the earlier wavy steps design used on the initial 1938 and 1939 reverse dies. The straight steps on Monticello's portico distinguish this reverse hub from the original, and the combination of the RDV-002 variety with strong doubled die characteristics makes DDR-003 doubly significant. Three die stages are tracked under catalog codes UVC-616 and DMR-012. Stage A at early die state remains unconfirmed. Stage B identifies a die scratch running west-southwest from the upper left porch as the mid-die state marker, with the obverse also in mid-die state. Stage C at late die state is unconfirmed. Cataloged by VarietyVista, this Philadelphia Mint nickel sits at the intersection of two variety categories — the reverse hub subtype (Straight Steps) and the doubled die — offering collectors a layered attribution story within the early Jefferson Nickel series.

Die Markers

• UVC-616
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die scratch West-Southwest from upper Left porch – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References