1961 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-012

Description

Cataloged by John Conway and cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1961 WDDR-012 Proof, this Jefferson Nickel proof displays Class II Distorted Hub Doubling. The current listing was formerly cataloged as WDDR-114, replacing the original WDDR-012 which was delisted because it was determined to be a doubled working hub rather than a doubled working die. This distinction is critical in die variety classification: a doubled working hub produces the same doubling pattern across every working die created from that hub, while a doubled working die is unique to a single die — making the latter more numismatically significant because fewer coins exhibit the variety. A very nice constant Class II spread shows on E PLURIBUS UNUM, with a closer spread visible on OF AMERICA and the right side of the Monticello building. The consistency of the spread across E PLURIBUS UNUM — described as "constant" rather than increasing or decreasing — suggests the affected inscription happens to lie along a relatively uniform displacement zone on the die face. Reverse die markers include a die scratch to the lower left of the small left window of Monticello and a die scratch above RICA in AMERICA, while no obverse markers were noted. The Jefferson Nickel was designed by Felix Schlag and struck as a proof at the Philadelphia Mint in 1961 in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.00 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter. The proof surface's mirror-like fields enhance the visibility of even close-spread doubled die effects, as the reflected light creates higher contrast at the edges of doubled design elements. John Conway's documentation and attribution of this replacement variety demonstrates the ongoing scholarly revision process within the Wexler catalog system, where improved understanding of hub-versus-die doubling leads to periodic reclassifications.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John Conway
• Wexler Variety ID: 1961 WDDR-012 Proof
• Expert attribution by John Conway

External References