1969-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-029

Description

Twenty-ninth in the Wexler reverse doubled die census for the 1969-S Jefferson nickel, WDDR-029 shows a close Class II (Distorted Hub) spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM — a focused doubling diagnostic that concentrates the variety's identification interest on the single motto inscription. Brian A. Ribar documented this variety, and it has been cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1969-S WDDR-029 Proof, confirming the variety originates from San Francisco proof production. Reverse die markers include a die gouge inside the O of OF and a die gouge to the right of the F of OF, providing two closely spaced diagnostics in the OF element that serve as fingerprints for identifying this specific working die before confirming the subtle Class II doubling on the motto. The obverse carries no noted markers. Class II doubling — resulting from hub distortion rather than positional misalignment — produces spread that varies in intensity across the die face, and the close classification indicates the primary and secondary impressions nearly overlap, creating thickened letter strokes rather than clearly separated doubled images. San Francisco's proof production of Jefferson nickels in 1969 utilized specially polished dies and planchets, and the proof format's mirror fields can both help and hinder the detection of close spread: the highly reflective surfaces can enhance contrast at the doubling edge but can also create reflections that mimic or obscure subtle thickness variations. The deep WDDR census for the 1969-S proof nickel (at least 29 varieties) documents the extensive hub doubling events that occurred across San Francisco's proof die production for this date, and WDDR-029's identification as a Ribar discovery places it within the collaborative research network that has expanded Jefferson nickel variety documentation. Collectors should first locate both die gouges at OF, then carefully examine E PLURIBUS UNUM under 20x magnification for the close spread.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1969-S WDDR-029 Proof
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References