1957 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

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Verified LegacyDoubled Die Obverse

Market Value

N/A

Rarity Index

N/A

Discovery Date

1957

Last Sold

N/A

Description

Carrying the FS-101 designation in the Cherrypickers' Guide (specifically listed as 035.8), the 1957 Philadelphia Jefferson nickel DDO-004 presents very strong extra thickness across IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the star, and the date — a comprehensive set of affected obverse elements that makes this one of the most visually dramatic varieties in the late-1950s Jefferson nickel census. Very strong extra thickness represents the highest intensity within the thickness class of doubled dies, where the secondary hub impression overlapped the primary so closely that letters and numerals appear dramatically bolder rather than showing separated secondary images. VarietyVista catalogs this under UVC-952 with die marriage reference DMR-006, and the FS-101 cross-reference (035.8) confirms its status as the most significant die variety for the date. Philadelphia produced approximately 38.4 million nickels in 1957, maintaining steady output in the final years before mintage surges in the early 1960s. The very strong classification means this variety should be detectable under relatively low magnification, with the thickened letter strokes on IN GOD WE TRUST providing the most dramatic visual evidence. Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait and the star both display the extra thickness effect, while the date numerals "1957" show enlarged digit proportions compared to normal die output. As the fourth DDO cataloged for 1957-P but the one earning the coveted FS-101 listing, DDO-004 represents the premier obverse doubled die variety for this date.