1941 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Attributed directly by John A. Wexler and designated as a "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Variety, the 1941 WDDR-002 is a Class VI doubled die reverse struck on a 1941 Jefferson nickel at the Philadelphia Mint. The Jefferson nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter and a plain edge. Philadelphia produced 203,265,000 nickels in 1941, the final full year of the original copper-nickel composition before wartime silver alloy nickels began in late 1942. The Class VI (distended hub) doubling on WDDR-002 is characterized as strong, producing extra thickness that spreads toward the center on E PLURIBUS UNUM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FIVE CENTS, and MONTICELLO — essentially every major inscription and the building name on the reverse. The "Best Of" designation indicates this variety has been recognized as one of the most significant doubled die reverses among all Jefferson nickel varieties, a distinction reserved for varieties with particularly strong or visually dramatic doubling. Class VI distended hub doubling occurs when the hub expands slightly under the extreme pressure of the hubbing process, causing the impressed design elements to spread outward from the hub's center, which translates to an inward or center-directed spread on the resulting die. Obverse die markers include several parallel die scratches positioned between the letters IN and the bottom of Jefferson's bust. On the reverse, a short vertical die gouge appears between the top of the R and I of AMERICA, and a light horizontal die scratch shows above the M of MONTICELLO. The 1941 date occupies a significant position in Jefferson nickel collecting as one of the last pre-war issues, and WDDR-002's designation among the elite "Best Of" varieties confirms its status as a priority target for Jefferson nickel doubled die enthusiasts.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Wexler Variety ID: 1941 WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References