1960 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Carrying a Class II Distorted Hub Doubling classification, the 1960 proof Jefferson nickel WDDO-006 displays a very close spread on LIBERTY, the star, and the date — three obverse elements that frequently appear together in the Jefferson nickel DDO census due to their shared zone on Felix Schlag's portrait design. The very close designation indicates the secondary hub impression landed almost directly atop the primary, producing minimal but detectable displacement. Notably, the reverse of this die marriage is itself a documented variety: the reverse is listed as 1960 Pr 5¢ WDDR-005, meaning collectors who locate WDDO-006 may simultaneously hold a doubled die reverse variety. No significant obverse die markers were recorded. Philadelphia produced all proof Jefferson nickels in this era, with approximately 1.69 million proof sets struck in 1960. Class II rotational hub doubling on the star is particularly diagnostic, as the star's five-pointed geometry responds differently to rotational misalignment than curved or rectilinear letter elements — the points may show asymmetric spread depending on their orientation relative to the rotation axis. The date numerals provide confirmatory evidence, with their angular shapes clearly revealing even very close secondary impressions. The paired nature of this variety — obverse DDO-006 combined with reverse DDR-005 — makes it a double variety that appeals to collectors who appreciate the unusual coincidence of both dies in a marriage exhibiting hub doubling, each from its own independent hub misalignment event.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Listed 1960 Pr 5c WDDR-005.

External References