1944 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Identified by Lou Coles as a Class II Distorted Hub Doubling variety, the 1944 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel WDDR-004 exhibits close Class II doubling on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and FIVE CENTS — the primary legends of Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse design. Class II doubling, also termed distorted hub doubling, occurs when the hub itself undergoes slight distortion during the die production process, causing design elements to appear doubled through a different mechanism than the more common Class I rotated hub doubling. Obverse die markers note that this die is also listed as 1944-P 5c WDDO-003, indicating the obverse die from this pair carries its own distinct doubled die attribution — a dual-variety die pairing that significantly increases collector interest. Reverse die markers include a long die scratch in the field above the right side of the Monticello building, providing a reliable secondary diagnostic for attribution. The 1944-P Jefferson Nickel was struck in the standard wartime silver alloy composition (56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese), distinguished by the large P mint mark above Monticello's dome — a departure from normal practice necessitated by the special wartime alloy. This composition change, implemented from mid-1942 through 1945 to conserve nickel for military applications, means WDDR-004 exists on a silver-content coin rather than the standard copper-nickel alloy. The combination of Class II doubling on both major reverse legends, the dual DDO/DDR die pairing, and the wartime silver composition makes this variety a particularly notable entry in the Jefferson Nickel doubled die catalog.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis
• Wexler Variety ID: 1944-P WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Whaden Curtis

External References