1968-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Attributed by John W. Bordner and carrying the "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Varieties designation, the 1968-D WDDO-003 Jefferson Nickel exhibits Class I Rotated Hub Doubling — a strong counterclockwise spread affecting LIBERTY, the star, the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the designer's initials. Class I rotational doubling occurs when the secondary hub impression is rotated relative to the primary about a central pivot point, producing a spread pattern that increases with distance from that pivot and follows a curved trajectory rather than a linear one. The variety is noted as very similar to WDDO-002, with the key distinction lying in the different die crack patterns at the base of the busts — a critical diagnostic that separates these two otherwise closely resembling varieties. Obverse die markers include a die crack on the base of the bust above the designer's initials and a die crack running east-west near the bottom edge of the collar, while the reverse shows a strong diagonal die scratch beneath the M of UNUM. The counterclockwise rotation affecting so many design elements simultaneously — from LIBERTY at the left through the central portrait elements to IN GOD WE TRUST at the right — creates a variety with multiple verification points spread across the entire obverse face. Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait, struck at the Denver Mint in 1968 in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.00 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter, shows the rotational displacement most clearly on the letters of LIBERTY and the star, where the separation between primary and secondary images can be measured at its widest. The "Best Of" classification elevates this variety among the hundreds of cataloged Jefferson Nickel doubled dies, recognizing its visual impact and collectible significance within the series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John W. Bordner
• Wexler Variety ID: 1968-D WDDO-003 "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Varieties
• Expert attribution by John W. Bordner

External References