1946-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Marking the return to standard composition, the 1946-S DDR-002 is the second cataloged doubled die reverse for a Jefferson Nickel struck in the first year after wartime silver alloy production ended. VarietyVista assigns die markers UVC-831 and DMR-013, with three documented die stages: Stage A at Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B at Mid Die State, and Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed). The variety exhibits a light spread on E PLURIBUS, decreasing in intensity from left to right — a characteristic of rotated hub doubling where displacement diminishes with distance from the pivot point. The Trumpet Tail mintmark style (MMS-002) further identifies this die pair, with the S mintmark displaying flared serif terminals. The 1946-S holds transitional significance: San Francisco returned to striking nickels in the pre-war 75% copper and 25% nickel composition, and the mintmark moved back to its standard small size on the reverse, after three years of the large wartime mintmark above Monticello's dome. Felix Schlag's design was struck at 21.2mm. Examine E PLURIBUS for the light spread diminishing from left to right, and verify the trumpet tail S mintmark.

Die Markers

• UVC-831
• DMR-013
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Glavosek
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References