1944 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Strong extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the star, and the date characterizes DDO-003 on the 1944 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel — a wartime issue produced at the height of World War II when the nickel composition had been altered to 35% silver, 56% copper, and 9% manganese to conserve nickel for military applications. Cataloged by VarietyVista with tracking codes UVC-765 and DMR-037, three die stages are recorded: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed), Stage B with both obverse and reverse at MDS, and Stage C at LDS. The confirmed MDS at Stage B provides the most reliable baseline for attribution, where die markers are established and the doubling characteristics remain clear. The "strong extra thickness" classification indicates substantial hub displacement that created noticeably thickened design elements without producing fully separated doubled imagery — a classification step between "light" and "medium spread" in the variety taxonomy. Felix Schlag's obverse portrait, with IN GOD WE TRUST in small letters left of Jefferson's head and LIBERTY along the right rim, provides the diagnostic areas where this strong extra thickness manifests. The wartime silver nickels bore a large mintmark above Monticello on the reverse, though Philadelphia issues also exist in both compositions during the 1942-1945 transition period.

Die Markers

• UVC-765
• DMR-037
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References