1942 Jefferson Nickel - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Nice Class II distorted hub doubling appears on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and the back of Jefferson's head on this ninth doubled die obverse for the 1942 Jefferson Nickel, attributed by Brian A. Ribar and cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1942 WDDO-009. Class II doubling is caused by distortion of the hub during the hubbing process, producing a spread that varies in direction across the design rather than showing the uniform directional shift characteristic of Class I rotated hub doubling. Die markers include a die scratch between the upper portions of R and U of TRUST on the obverse and a die gouge to the right of S of CENTS on the reverse. The 1942 Jefferson Nickel was struck in the standard 75% copper and 25% nickel composition during the last year before wartime silver alloy production began in late 1942. Wartime Jefferson Nickels (1942-1945) used a 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese composition to conserve nickel for military use, but this variety predates that transition. The doubling across multiple obverse design elements — text, star, date, and portrait hair — indicates a substantial hub distortion that affected much of the die face during preparation.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1942 WDDO-009

External References