1969-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-017

Description

Close Class II distorted hub doubling is visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on this 1969-S Proof Jefferson Nickel, where the tight separation between the doubled images indicates the hub distortion was relatively minor but still sufficient to produce detectable displacement. Attributed by Brian A. Ribar under Wexler Variety ID 1969-S WDDR-017 Proof, the "close" qualifier distinguishes this from wider Class II spreads where the doubling is more immediately apparent. Reverse die markers are particularly abundant on this variety: many die gouges cluster around the US of PLURIBUS and UN of UNUM, and a die scratch runs below MON of MONTICELLO. No obverse markers have been recorded. The concentration of gouges near PLURIBUS suggests the die received some damage during its service life, which aids in distinguishing this specific die from the sixteen other documented doubled die reverses for 1969-S. San Francisco's proof nickel production in 1969 used Felix Schlag's original Monticello design, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia estate, which had graced the reverse continuously since 1938. The seventeen DDR varieties cataloged for 1969-S proof alone reflect the intensive scrutiny these collector-targeted coins receive from attribution specialists.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1969-S WDDR-017 Proof
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References