1960 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-003

Description

Cross-referenced as CONECA 3-R-II, WDDR-003 on the 1960 Jefferson Nickel is a Class II, Distorted Hub Doubling variety that achieves a noteworthy distinction: the reverse inscriptions show tripling on E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA rather than simple doubling, indicating the die received at least three distinguishable hub impressions with progressive misalignment. Closer doubling — a tighter secondary image — appears on FIVE CENTS, suggesting the distortion pattern was not uniform across the die face. Obverse die markers include a die dot in the field to the left of Jefferson's chin, while the reverse carries three slanted die scratches below the small left window of Monticello. Tripling is less common than standard doubling because it requires three (or more) hub impressions where the misalignment persisted or compounded rather than self-correcting after a single displaced impression. The visual result on E PLURIBUS UNUM is distinctive: rather than a single ghost image beside each letter, two secondary images may be visible, creating a stepped or layered appearance that experienced variety collectors find particularly appealing. The 1960 Philadelphia Jefferson Nickel saw production of approximately 55.4 million pieces, a year that also produced the famous 1960 Small Date and Large Date cent varieties at the same facility. Without attributed expert credit in the catalog record, WDDR-003's classification relies on the CONECA numbering (3-R-II, meaning the third documented reverse variety of Class II for this date) and the Wexler designation as parallel attribution anchors. The three die scratches below the small left window serve as the primary reverse die fingerprint.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die dot in field to left of Jefferson's chin.
• Reverse: Three slanted die scratches below small left window.

Attribution History

• CONECA 3-R-II

External References