1971-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as DDO-003 with die marker code UVC-1395 and DMR-012, this doubled die obverse variety appears on a 1971-S proof Jefferson nickel struck at the San Francisco Mint. Beginning in 1968, proof coin production shifted from Philadelphia to San Francisco, and the 1971-S proof nickel carries the S mintmark that identifies San Francisco production. The Jefferson nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter. The San Francisco Mint produced proof sets in 1971 for the collector market, and the transition of proof operations to this facility marked a new era in the relationship between proof coinage and mintmark attribution. The doubling on DDO-003 manifests on the obverse design elements of Felix Schlag's Jefferson portrait, creating visible hub displacement that can be detected under magnification on the design's inscription and portrait details. An important cataloging note indicates that the reverse die paired with this obverse is identified as RDV-006, characterized by strong railings on the Monticello building, and this same reverse die is separately listed as DDR-004, meaning the reverse carries its own documented doubled die variety. This makes specimens struck from this die pair doubly collectible, exhibiting cataloged varieties on both the obverse and reverse. The combination of a DDO obverse with a DDR reverse on the same coin is relatively uncommon and represents a particularly interesting die marriage for variety specialists. The 1971-S proof Jefferson nickel is part of the early San Francisco proof era, and doubled die varieties from this period are actively collected by specialists who study the proof die preparation process for evidence of hub doubling. DDO-003's pairing with the DDR-004 reverse elevates its desirability beyond what the obverse doubling alone would warrant, and collectors seeking this variety should examine both sides for the full range of documented hub doubling characteristics.

Die Markers

• UVC-1395; DMR-012

External References