1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-033

Description

Distorted hub doubling of the Class II variety manifests on LIBERTY, the star, the date, and the designer's initials FS on this 1971-S Proof Jefferson Nickel, a coin struck at the San Francisco Mint exclusively for collector proof sets. Class II doubling results from a distorted or warped hub being impressed into the die, creating design element shifts that differ from the rotational spreads of Class I — the displacement here is caused by physical deformation of the hub itself rather than misalignment during hubbing. Attributed by Brian A. Ribar under Wexler Variety ID 1971-S WDDO-033 Proof, the high sequence number of 033 indicates the remarkable density of doubled die obverse varieties cataloged for this single date and mint. Die markers aid in confirming attribution: a die scratch runs below the front tip of Jefferson's collar on the obverse, and a second die scratch appears on the rim above the date. No reverse die markers have been noted. The 1971-S proof nickel belongs to the Jefferson Nickels Original Design series (1938-2003), which carried Felix Schlag's portrait through sixty-five years of continuous production — one of the longest design runs in American coinage history.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S WDDO-033 Proof
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References