1962 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-042

Description

Attributed by Brian A. Ribar and carrying the Wexler Variety ID 1962 WDDO-042 Proof, this Class II doubled die obverse was struck on a 1962 proof Jefferson nickel at the Philadelphia Mint. The Jefferson nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter, and the Mint produced 3,218,019 proof sets in 1962. This variety was formerly listed as WDDO-061 and replaces the original WDDO-042 listing, which was delisted for being too minor to warrant a cataloged entry. The Class II (distorted hub) doubling shows on IN GOD WE TRUST, with the doubling increasing in intensity from left to right across the motto. This progressive increase in doubling strength from one end of an inscription to the other is a hallmark of distorted hub mechanisms, where the hub's distortion creates variable displacement across the die face depending on each element's position relative to the distortion axis. Obverse die markers include a die gouge in the field at the 11 o'clock position, an unusual open-field marker that provides a quick screening diagnostic for collectors searching through proof Jefferson nickels. On the reverse, a die dot appears to the upper left of the small left window of Monticello. The extensive renumbering history of this variety, from WDDO-061 to WDDO-042, illustrates the ongoing maintenance required to keep the Wexler catalog current as new discoveries are added and minor varieties are removed. With 42 or more doubled die obverse varieties cataloged for the 1962 proof date, this year ranks among the most productive in the entire Jefferson nickel series for DDO discoveries. Brian Ribar's systematic examination of proof Jefferson nickels has been instrumental in building this comprehensive catalog, demonstrating that seemingly common modern proof coins can harbor an unexpectedly large number of collectible die varieties when subjected to careful die study.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1962 WDDO-042 Proof
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References