1970-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Holding the primary reverse doubled die designation for the 1970-S Jefferson nickel, WDDR-001 displays close Class II distorted hub doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse die marker — a die gouge located inside the letter P of PLURIBUS — provides an independent diagnostic fingerprint for this specific working die, while no notable obverse die markers were recorded. Class II distorted hub doubling produces an irregular secondary impression that varies in intensity across the affected text, as the hub's non-planar surface contacts different portions of the die at slightly different angles during the sinking process. San Francisco struck approximately 238.8 million nickels in 1970, maintaining its role as a major business-strike production facility. The close doubling on E PLURIBUS UNUM demands careful magnification to resolve, as the secondary impression sits very near the primary, creating thickened or subtly split letter forms rather than clearly separated secondary images. The die gouge inside the P of PLURIBUS — a raised dot or irregular bump within the letter's enclosed counter space — offers the most accessible identification starting point: collectors can scan for this distinctive interior mark and, upon finding it, proceed to the more demanding examination of the motto for Class II doubling character. As WDDR-001, this variety holds the benchmark position among 1970-S reverse doubled dies, indicating either the first discovery or the most significant variety documented for this date and mint combination in the Wexler catalog.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None noted.
• Reverse: Die gouge inside P of PLURIBUS.

External References