1956-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Hub distortion during the die-making process left its signature on UNUM and AMERICA on the reverse of this 1956 Denver Mint Jefferson Nickel, classified as Class II distorted hub doubling under Wexler Variety ID 1956-D WDDR-002. Class II doubling is caused by design distortion in the hub itself — rather than a shift between hub and die — resulting in spread that follows the contours of the affected design elements in a characteristic pattern distinct from the lateral or rotational spreads of other classes. The obverse die marker is a die scratch to the left of the L of LIBERTY, while the reverse shows a series of die scratches between IVE of FIVE and STA of STATES, plus a series of die gouges to the right of the F of OF. Attributed by Whaden Curtis, this variety belongs to the post-war era of Jefferson Nickel production at Denver, when the Mint had returned to the standard 75% copper / 25% nickel composition after the wartime silver alloy years of 1942-1945. The 1956-D carries a modest mintage by Denver standards, making well-preserved examples with clear doubling on UNUM and AMERICA attractive to variety specialists who focus on the Jefferson Nickel series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis
• Wexler Variety ID: 1956-D WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Whaden Curtis

External References