1959 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Struck as a proof at the Philadelphia Mint, this 1959 Jefferson nickel WDDR-004 exhibits Class II (Distorted Hub Doubling) with a close spread visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM. Proof surfaces enhance the visibility of even subtle hub doubling, making this variety particularly attractive under magnification. The obverse diagnostic is a slanted die scratch in Jefferson's hair above the temple, while the reverse carries a die gouge to the left of the small left window and a die dot to the left of the long left window. Proof doubled die nickels from the late 1950s occupy an interesting niche—proof production was still relatively modest compared to later decades, and hub doubling events on proof dies represent a quality-control anomaly in what was meant to be a premium product. The window-area die markers provide clean attribution points against the mirror-like proof fields.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Slanted die scratch in Jefferson's hair above temple.
• Reverse: Die gouge to left of small left window; die dot to left of long left window.

External References