2005 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-030

Description

Very strong spread beneath the first branch of the right tree distinguishes this 2005 Jefferson Nickel Westward Journey doubled die reverse, one of thirty documented DDRs for this commemorative design year. The 2005 Westward Journey series featured the American Bison reverse by Jamie Franki and the "Ocean in View" reverse by Joe Fitzgerald, and DDR-030 appears on one of these special reverses that celebrated the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition. VarietyVista catalogs this variety with die markers UVC-1609 and DMR-033. In Stage A, a light die scratch connects the far-right lower second and third waves, and very minor doubling appears on GOD WE TRUST — both in Early Die State. Stages B and C at Mid Die State and Late Die State remain unconfirmed. The comments note this variety can be found as an SMS issue in Westward Journey Sets, indicating the die was used for Special Mint Set production, which gives the doubling a distinctive satin-finish appearance different from business strike specimens. Thirty doubled die reverses documented for a single 2005 nickel design reflects the extraordinary scrutiny that collectors applied to these limited-run commemorative designs. The Westward Journey nickels marked the first change to the Jefferson Nickel reverse in over sixty years, generating intense collector interest and die variety research.

Die Markers

• UVC-1609
• DMR-033
• Stage A:
• Light die scratch connects the far right lower second and third waves – EDS
• Very minor doubling on GOD WE TRUST – EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References