2005 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Second reverse doubled die documented for the 2005 Jefferson nickel "American Bison" Westward Journey design, DDR-002 presents strong spread in a southward direction on the lowest right branch of the left tree. The 2005 Westward Journey reverse, designed by Jamie Franki, depicts an American bison (buffalo) standing in a prairie landscape with trees flanking the scene — a design that paid tribute to the wildlife encountered during the Lewis and Clark expedition and intentionally echoed James Earle Fraser's classic Buffalo nickel reverse from 1913-1938. VarietyVista classified this variety under UVC-1562 and DMR-007, tracking three die stages: Stage A where both reverse and obverse surfaces are at early die state, Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The EDS confirmation for Stage A means specimens with fresh die surfaces have been verified for this variety. The comment "SMS. Can be found in Mint Sets" indicates this variety appears on satin finish coins produced for the 2005 uncirculated mint sets — the special burnished-planchet finish introduced that year which continued through 2010. Strong southward spread on a specific tree branch — the lowest right branch of the left tree — demonstrates how the organic, irregular contours of natural design elements reveal hub doubling with particular clarity, as the displaced secondary branch image creates a clearly visible double impression in a direction (south/downward) that is inconsistent with the branch's natural growth direction. The Westward Journey series' limited two-year production window (2004-2005) makes these varieties part of a finite design catalog, adding collecting appeal. Collectors should locate the left tree's lowest right-side branch under 10-15x magnification and look for the southward-displaced secondary impression below the primary branch image.

Die Markers

• UVC-1562
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kevin Zaletel
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References