1940-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-009

Description

Very close Class II Distorted Hub Doubling on FIVE CENTS identifies WDDR-009 on the 1940 San Francisco Jefferson Nickel, attributed by Robert S. Lahti. Class II doubling results from a distorted hub that flexes during the die-sinking process, creating non-uniform displacement across the die face — the closeness of the doubling indicates minimal hub distortion, requiring careful magnification to distinguish the secondary impressions from die deterioration. Obverse die markers include a slanted die scratch below the R of LIBERTY, while the reverse exhibits an extensive array of diagnostics: a die gouge above the top of the dome, a series of die scratches between the letters I, V, and E of FIVE, a light die crack between E and P of E PLURIBUS UNUM, and a series of slanted die scratches below NU of UNUM. San Francisco struck 39,690,000 Jefferson Nickels in 1940, a moderate output in the series' third year of production as the United States moved toward wartime mobilization. The extensive reverse die markers — gouge, scratches, and crack — suggest this die had accumulated considerable wear and damage by the time it was documented, indicating a late-state die that had seen substantial production before being retired. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1940-S WDDR-009, Lahti's attribution adds this variety to a growing catalog of early Jefferson Nickel doubled dies from the pre-war San Francisco mint.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert S. Lahti
• Wexler Variety ID: 1940-S WDDR-009
• Expert attribution by Robert S. Lahti

External References