1944-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Attributed by Brian Ribar, this 1944-S Jefferson Nickel WDDO-001 exhibits Class II Distorted Hub Doubling affecting LIBERTY, the star, and the date. Struck in the wartime 35% silver alloy at the San Francisco Mint, it carries a large S mintmark above the dome of Monticello on the reverse — the distinctive placement reserved exclusively for the 1942-1945 silver-content emergency issue. Distorted hub doubling on the obverse creates varying degrees of spread across LIBERTY and the date numerals, with the five-pointed star between IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY also showing displacement. The reverse die exhibits multiple die cracks: between the columns of Monticello, from the steps to the rim, and from the rim through the S of PLURIBUS continuing to the dome structure. This network of reverse cracks documents significant die fatigue and helps establish die stage for individual specimens. San Francisco's wartime nickel production served both domestic circulation and military needs across the Pacific theater, and doubled dies from this mint and composition occupy a specialized niche among Jefferson Nickel variety collectors.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1944-S WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Brian Ribar

External References