1944-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Anchoring the reverse doubled die census for the 1944-D Jefferson wartime nickel, WDDR-001 exhibits very close Class II Distorted Hub Doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM, with the doubling best visible on the word UNUM. Class II doubling in the Wexler system results from rotational displacement between hub impressions, producing displacement that varies with distance from the pivot point — the very close classification indicates the secondary impression landed extremely near the primary, creating thickened letter strokes rather than dramatically separated images. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse, depicting Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate, provides the E PLURIBUS UNUM motto across the upper reverse arc where the close doubling manifests. The obverse die carries its own attribution, listed as 1944-D 5c WDDO-002, creating a dual-attribution die marriage where both dies carry independent doubled die designations. Reverse die markers include a slanted die scratch to the lower left of the small right window on Monticello and a die dot inside the left arch, providing two independent diagnostics for die confirmation beyond the doubling itself. Denver struck approximately 32.31 million wartime silver-alloy nickels in 1944, using the emergency 56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese composition with the large D mintmark placed above Monticello's dome. The very close spread on UNUM demands careful examination at high magnification — 15-20x or greater — to detect the rotational displacement, as the primary and secondary impressions nearly overlap. The dual-attribution status of this die marriage (obverse WDDO-002 paired with reverse WDDR-001) makes it particularly significant for variety collectors seeking die pairs where both sides carry cataloged doubling events. Collectors should first locate the slanted die scratch near the right window and the die dot inside the left arch to confirm the reverse die before evaluating the close doubling on UNUM.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Listed as 1944-D 5c WDDO-002.
• Reverse: Slanted die scratch to lower left of small right window; die dot inside left arch.

External References