1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Discovered by Geoffrey Fults, this 1971-S proof Jefferson Nickel presents Class II Distorted Hub Doubling with a close spread toward the center on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and the designer's initials FS — Felix Schlag's monogram from the 1938 design competition. The close spread produces subtly thickened elements where the secondary hub impression sits nearly atop the primary, requiring magnification to resolve the displacement. Die scratches from the top of the F in FS provide a useful attribution marker, while a die gouge to the right of the I in UNITED on the reverse confirms the die pair. As a proof struck at San Francisco during the early years of exclusive S-mint proof production — which began in 1968 when proof coinage transferred from Philadelphia — WDDO-012 benefits from mirror-finish surfaces that render close-spread doubling more legible than on business strikes. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1971-S WDDO-012 Proof.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Geoffrey Fults
• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S WDDO-012 Proof
• Expert attribution by Geoffrey Fults

External References