1939 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-009

Description

Light spread across the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM defines DDR-009 for the 1939 Jefferson nickel, the second year of Felix Schlag's five-cent design that would serve American commerce for sixty-five years. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-622 and DMR-018, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C where both reverse and obverse surfaces have reached confirmed late die state. The LDS confirmation for Stage C indicates specimens exist showing significant die wear, providing a verified endpoint for this die's production life. Philadelphia struck approximately 120.6 million Jefferson nickels in 1939, building on the inaugural 1938 production as the new design entered its first full calendar year. The reverse carries the RDV-002 designation with the notation "Straight Steps," identifying a specific reverse design variant characterized by the step configuration on Monticello's entrance portico. The straight steps versus wavy steps distinction on early Jefferson nickel reverses reflects differences between master die or hub generations and serves as an important secondary diagnostic independent of the DDR attribution. Light spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM — positioned in a ribbon-like banner above Monticello's dome — indicates subtle hub doubling that thickens the motto's letterforms without producing clearly separated secondary impressions. The E PLURIBUS UNUM inscription on the Jefferson nickel reverse is rendered in relatively small letters that demand careful examination under 15-20x magnification to resolve light doubling. Collectors should first confirm the straight steps on Monticello to verify RDV-002, then examine the motto letters for consistent thickening that distinguishes hub doubling from strike-related characteristics.

Die Markers

• UVC-622
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References