1952-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Pivoted hub doubling of Class V character defines WDDR-001 on the 1952-S Jefferson Nickel, where nice spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM radiates from a pivot axis that produces increasing displacement as distance from the pivot point grows. Brian A. Ribar attributed this first-listed doubled die reverse for the 1952 San Francisco issue, which carried a mintage of 20,572,000 — a modest production figure that reflected the Korean War-era reductions at the San Francisco facility. Obverse die markers include a slanted die scratch below TR of TRUST and slanted die scratches below the D of GOD and W of WE. The reverse displays heavy die scratches in both the left and right arches of Monticello along with a die gouge positioned to the upper right of the left long window. These reverse markers, located within the architectural details of Jefferson's estate, provide secondary confirmation points beyond the primary doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM. Class V pivoted hub doubling occurs when the hub and die contact each other with proper centering but with slight angular rotation between successive hubbing impressions, creating a spread pattern that fans outward from the pivot center. San Francisco's role in Jefferson Nickel production during the early 1950s was winding down — the facility would cease nickel production entirely from 1955 through 1967 — making S-mint varieties from this era inherently scarcer in the population than their Philadelphia counterparts. Wexler cataloged this under variety ID 1952-S WDDR-001.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1952-S WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References