1945-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-010

Description

Attributed by Whaden Curtis and cross-referenced as Wexler WDDO-010, this 1945-D Jefferson Nickel is struck on the wartime silver alloy composition (56% copper, 35% silver, 9% manganese) used from mid-1942 through 1945. The variety exhibits Class VI Distended Hub Doubling, producing extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the star, and the date. Class VI doubling occurs when the hub distends during the impression process, and the resulting spread pattern is diagnostic of this mechanism. A slanted die crack in the hair and a die dot to the left of the eye serve as the primary obverse die markers. Wartime silver nickels are identified by their large mint mark above Monticello on the reverse, a departure from the standard small D placement. The 1945-D had a mintage of approximately 37.16 million wartime alloy pieces, making it one of the more available dates in the silver nickel subseries. However, attributed die varieties like WDDO-010 represent a small fraction of surviving specimens, and the combination of wartime composition with a Class VI doubled die obverse makes this variety appealing to collectors pursuing both composition and die variety specialties.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis
• Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D WDDO-010
• Expert attribution by Whaden Curtis

External References