1960-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-022

Description

Attributed by Brian A. Ribar, WDDR-022 on the 1960-D Jefferson nickel is classified as Class VI, Distended Hub Doubling — a category where the hub metal itself has flowed or spread during the hubbing process, producing thickened rather than discretely doubled design elements. Very nice Class VI extra thickness shows on E PLURIBUS UNUM, with lesser but still detectable spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The obverse die carries a heavy die gouge below Jefferson's bust, an accidental damage mark that serves as a reliable attribution diagnostic when identifying this specific die pairing. Reverse die markers are particularly abundant: a die scratch passes through the upper portion of IBUS in PLURIBUS, die scratches appear to the left and right of the U in UNITED, and another die scratch sits to the lower right of the D in UNITED. These die markers accumulated from handling and use and function as fingerprints for this specific working die. Class VI doubling on Jefferson nickel reverses is especially collectible because Felix Schlag's Monticello design and the surrounding inscriptions provide clear, consistently spaced letterforms against which the thickening effect can be measured. The Denver Mint produced over 192 million nickels in 1960, giving variety hunters a substantial population to search through when seeking this die pairing.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1960-D WDDR-022
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References