1968-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-020

Description

Attributed by Whaden Curtis and cross-referenced as Wexler 1968-S WDDO-020 Proof, this proof Jefferson Nickel obverse presents Class I Rotated Hub Doubling — a very strong counterclockwise spread affecting IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, the five-pointed star, the date, and the designer's initials FS. Class I rotation represents the most mechanically straightforward doubling type, where the hub was rotated slightly around its center axis during the secondary impression, producing uniform angular displacement on all design elements proportional to their distance from the rotation center. The "very strong" intensity classification places this among the more dramatic doubled die varieties in the 1968-S Jefferson nickel population. Obverse die markers include a series of short die gouges on the left side of the O of GOD, a short nearly horizontal die gouge near the rim above the N of IN, and a short slanted die scratch in the field above Jefferson's ribbon on the queue. The reverse carries a diagonal die scratch through the upper left portion of the right arch of the Monticello building. As a 1968-S proof struck at the San Francisco Mint in 75% copper and 25% nickel at 5.0 grams and 21.21 mm diameter, this coin was produced on polished planchets with mirror fields that dramatically enhance the visibility of the strong counterclockwise doubling. WDDO-020 is one of the higher-numbered doubled die obverse varieties for the 1968-S date, reflecting the extensive die variety population generated by San Francisco's proof nickel production that year, and the very strong designation distinguishes it from the more commonly encountered light-spread varieties in the same catalog range.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis
• Wexler Variety ID: 1968-S WDDO-020 Proof
• Expert attribution by Whaden Curtis

External References