1968-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-030

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista, the 1968-S Jefferson Nickel DDO-030 exhibits light spread on the designer's initials (FS for Felix Schlag) with extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST. The die markers carry UVC and DMR codes listed as unconfirmed (????/???), indicating this variety's technical classification was still under investigation at the time of documentation. Three die stages are recorded: Stage A is unconfirmed EDS, Stage B shows the obverse at early-to-mid die state (EMDS) paired with a reverse listed as DDR-012 at EMDS, and Stage C is unconfirmed LDS. The pairing of this doubled obverse with DDR-012 creates a die marriage where both the obverse and reverse carry hub doubling — a collector-significant combination that makes coins from this specific die pair doubly collectible. Comments note this variety is similar to DDO-013 but with a different mintmark position, highlighting the careful differentiation required when cataloging similar doubling patterns across dies that received mintmarks in slightly different locations. The 1968-S nickel was the first regular San Francisco Mint circulation nickel in many years, as San Francisco had primarily produced proof coins during the previous decade. Thirty documented DDOs for the 1968-S date reflects extensive collector research into this transitional-era nickel. The extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST — rather than a clear spread — suggests the hub displacement was minimal, producing a doubling effect best described as thickened or bold lettering rather than distinctly separated secondary images.

Die Markers

• UVC-????
• DMR-???
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is EMDS
• Reverse is LISTED as
• DDR-012 – EMDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Robert Umbarger
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References