1939 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-011

Description

Eleventh doubled die reverse for the 1939 Jefferson Nickel, this variety presents light extra thickness on E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, and the letters LLO of MONTICELLO — an unusually broad distribution of doubling that touches every major reverse inscription. Cataloged in the VarietyVista system under UVC-624 and DMR-020, three die states have been established: Stage A captures both the obverse and reverse in early die state, Stage B shows both dies at mid-die-state, and Stage C remains unconfirmed at the late die state. The reverse is designated RDV-002, identified by its diagnostic Straight Steps on the Monticello design — a reverse die variety characteristic that distinguishes the stepped entrance approach of Jefferson's Virginia estate on this specific die from the curved steps found on other reverse varieties. The 1939 Jefferson Nickel was only the second year of Felix Schlag's design, and the early production era generated a notable number of doubled die reverses as Mint engravers refined the hubbing process for the new type. Eleven DDRs from 1939 reflects the intensity of research applied to these early Jefferson Nickel issues. The "light extra thickness" characterization indicates the doubling manifests as slightly bolder lettering rather than dramatically displaced secondary impressions, requiring magnification and comparison against known normal specimens for confirmation. The RDV-002 Straight Steps reverse die variety provides an important secondary attribution pathway, as the step configuration is visible at lower magnification and helps narrow identification before the subtle extra thickness of the doubling is evaluated under higher power.

Die Markers

• UVC-624
• DMR-020
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References