1955-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-006

Description

John A. Wexler personally attributed WDDR-006 for the 1955-D Jefferson nickel, classifying it as Class II distorted hub doubling that shows close separation on E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The obverse die carries two markers: a die gouge above the O of GOD and a die scratch above the digits 195 in the date. The reverse die adds two more diagnostics: die scratches to the upper left of the first O in MONTICELLO and a die dot between the lower portions of the T and E in STATES. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1955-D WDDR-006, this listing benefits from Wexler's personal attribution -- the preeminent authority in doubled die numismatics whose catalog system has become the standard reference for the collecting community. Class II distorted hub doubling creates non-uniform spread patterns because the hub warps between impressions rather than shifting cleanly, meaning different zones of the die face show doubling in slightly different directions and intensities. Denver struck 74,464,100 nickels in 1955, a period when Jefferson nickels circulated heavily in everyday commerce. The 1955 date falls during the mid-century production peak for the original Felix Schlag design, which would continue essentially unchanged until the Westward Journey Nickel Series of 2004-2005 temporarily replaced it. The four die markers distributed across both obverse and reverse provide a comprehensive authentication framework, and the close Class II spread on the two longest reverse inscriptions gives collectors extended text surfaces to examine for the telltale non-uniform separation characteristic of hub distortion.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Wexler Variety ID: 1955-D WDDR-006
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References