1970-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Attributed by John A. Wexler personally as a proof variety, the 1970-S Jefferson Nickel WDDR-002 exhibits Class II Distorted Hub Doubling — a category where the hub itself was slightly distorted or warped during the die-making process, creating doubling that varies in direction and intensity across the die surface. Very close Class II doubling is visible on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the motto that arches above the Monticello reverse. Proof coins from the San Francisco Mint were struck on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields that make even subtle doubled die characteristics more detectable than on business strikes. Die markers for attribution include a die gouge to the left of R of PLURIBUS and a die dot positioned to the far left of E of E PLURIBUS UNUM — both on the reverse die, providing precise locational diagnostics for certification. The 1970-S proof nickel was part of the annual proof set produced exclusively at San Francisco, and doubled dies found on proof coins are particularly valued because the controlled striking environment and superior surface quality make the doubling more visually apparent. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1970-S WDDR-002 Proof, this variety carries the explicit proof designation that confirms its origins in the specialized proof production process rather than standard business strike manufacturing. Distorted Hub Doubling on proof nickels represents the intersection of manufacturing precision with the inherent variability of hub-to-die transfer technology of the era.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S WDDR-002 Proof
• Expert attribution by John A. Wexler

External References