1963 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-134

Description

Brian A. Ribar attributed this 1963 Jefferson Nickel as WDDR-134, a Class II, Distorted Hub Doubling variety exhibiting what the attributor characterizes as a "very nice" spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM, with slightly closer doubling that increases from left to right on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the right side of the Monticello building. The progressive left-to-right intensification across UNITED STATES OF AMERICA mirrors the geometry of a Class II distortion event where the hub deformation vector aligned roughly horizontally, creating greater displacement at the rightward periphery of the inscription arc. No obverse die markers were noted, while the reverse shows a small die gouge between N and T of CENTS and two short die gouges on the left side of the A of STATES. That the 1963 Jefferson Nickel has accumulated at least 134 documented DDR entries establishes it as one of the most prolific single dates in the entire Jefferson Nickel DDR census — a distinction that reflects both the high mintage (approximately 175.8 million at Philadelphia alone) and the exceptional attention this date has received from variety specialists over decades. Reaching the 134th entry in a DDR catalog means collectors face a genuinely challenging attribution environment: subtle differences in spread direction, intensity, class, and affected elements must be meticulously compared against reference images to arrive at the correct designation. The increasing spread pattern where the building itself shows doubling on its right side adds architectural detail to the inscription-focused doubling, giving collectors multiple diagnostic zones to examine when confirming this specific variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1963 WDDR-134
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References