1943 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-013

Description

Class V pivoted hub doubling produces notably attractive spread on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and Jefferson's ribbon on WDDO-013 of the 1943 Jefferson nickel. Obverse die markers include a slanted die crack in Jefferson's hair at the top of his head and an irregular-shaped die gouge in the hair at the back of his head. On the reverse, a die dot sits to the lower right of the small right window on Monticello, and a vertical die scratch runs above the right side of the small right window. Class V pivoted hub doubling occurs when the secondary hub impression rotates around a fixed pivot point relative to the primary impression, producing spread whose direction and magnitude vary systematically depending on each design element's distance and angular position from the pivot center. Elements near the pivot show minimal displacement, while those farther away display progressively wider spread — a geometric relationship that creates the characteristic "fan" pattern visible across LIBERTY, the star, the date, and the ribbon. The 1943 Jefferson nickel was struck during the wartime silver alloy era in 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, with the large P mintmark above Monticello on Philadelphia issues. The slanted die crack through Jefferson's hair at the crown of the head suggests this working die experienced stress cracking during service, and the crack's orientation provides a die-state marker that may correlate with the progression of specimens from early to late production within this die's output.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Slanted die crack in Jefferson's hair at the top of his head; irregular-shaped die gouge in his hair at the back of his head.
• Reverse: Die dot to lower right of small right window; vertical die scratch above right side of small right window.

External References