1961 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-024

Description

Twenty-fourth in the reverse doubled die census for the 1961 Jefferson nickel, WDDR-024 exhibits Class II (Distorted Hub) doubling with a very close spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Class II doubling arises when the working hub undergoes slight rotational distortion during the secondary impression, creating displacement that varies across the die face based on distance from the distortion axis. Felix Schlag's Monticello reverse design — depicting Thomas Jefferson's Virginia plantation from the front — provides the architectural canvas for this subtle variety. Two reverse die markers serve as crucial identification diagnostics: a short vertical die gouge inside the left arch of Monticello's colonnade and a small die dot to the right of the large semicircular window above the building's entrance. These die-specific features function as fingerprints unique to this particular working die, enabling collectors to confirm they are examining the correct die before attempting to evaluate the very close spread. No significant obverse die markers were noted. Philadelphia struck proof sets in substantial quantities during 1961, with approximately 3.03 million sets produced. The very close classification indicates the primary and secondary hub impressions nearly overlap, producing barely perceptible thickening of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA letterforms rather than visibly separated doubled images. Twenty-four documented reverse doubled dies for the 1961 Jefferson nickel reflects the extraordinary depth of variety research applied to proof issues of this era, where the mirror fields and frosted devices provide high-contrast surfaces that reveal even minimal hub displacement. Collectors should examine UNITED STATES OF AMERICA under 20x or greater magnification after confirming the die identity through the vertical gouge inside the left arch and the die dot near the semicircular window.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Short vertical die gouge inside the left arch; small die dot to the right of the large semicircular window.

External References