1968-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Identified through die markers UVC-1346 and DMR-030, DDR-004 on the 1968-S Jefferson Nickel presents light spread on STATES OF AMERICA and UNUM — portions of two reverse inscriptions that together span the upper and central arcs of Felix Schlag's Monticello design. The doubling's appearance on STATES OF AMERICA (from the national identification) and UNUM (from E PLURIBUS UNUM) indicates the hub displacement direction intersected both text areas at angles producing detectable letter offset. The 1968-S was struck at the San Francisco Mint as a business strike in standard copper-nickel composition, part of the first year that mintmarks returned to coinage after the three-year removal period (1965-1967). The S mintmark's resumption in 1968 makes these coins readily identifiable by mint of origin. DMR-030's high number reflects thorough die characteristic documentation for 1968-S issues. Light spread across these text areas requires careful magnified examination — the vertical strokes in STATES and the curved elements of UNUM provide the best diagnostic surfaces. Collectors distinguishing DDR-004 from DDR-006 (UVC-1348, also on the 1968-S) should rely on the die markers as the primary differentiator.

Die Markers

• UVC-1346; DMR-030

External References