1951 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

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Verified LegacyDoubled Die Reverse

Market Value

N/A

Rarity Index

N/A

Discovery Date

1951

Last Sold

N/A

Description

Second in the Wexler-documented reverse doubled die census for the 1951 Jefferson nickel, WDDR-002 presents Class II Distorted Hub Doubling with very close separation on the letters OF AMERICA on Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse. Class II doubling arises from rotational displacement between hub impressions — the working hub pivoted slightly around a center point, creating angular displacement that varies with distance from the rotation axis. The "very close" qualifier indicates the secondary impression landed almost directly atop the primary, producing thickened letter strokes rather than clearly separated doubled images, demanding careful examination under magnification to confirm. Obverse die markers provide essential secondary diagnostics: a circular die scratch pattern on Jefferson's forehead and a die dot positioned between the B and E of LIBERTY offer two independent identification points unique to this working die. On the reverse, a die dot below the E of FIVE adds a third die-specific marker. Philadelphia struck approximately 28.61 million Jefferson nickels in 1951, a moderate postwar production year. The circular scratch pattern on Jefferson's forehead is a particularly distinctive marker, as circular scratches typically result from rotational polishing or contact with a curved tool during die preparation, creating an unusual pattern that is unlikely to be replicated on other dies. Die dots — tiny raised points on struck coins produced by small pits in the die surface — provide precise locational diagnostics. Collectors should first locate the circular scratch on the forehead and the dot between B and E to confirm the correct die, then examine OF AMERICA under 20x or higher magnification, tilting the coin under direct lighting to reveal the subtle thickening characteristic of very close Class II displacement.