2005 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Attributed by Dan Chapman and cross-referenced as CDDR-004 and CONECA DDR-002, this doubled die reverse on the 2005-P Jefferson Nickel belongs to the Ocean in View design — the second of two special Westward Journey reverse types issued in 2005 to commemorate the Lewis and Clark expedition's arrival at the Pacific coast. The Ocean in View reverse, designed by Joe Fitzgerald and sculpted by Donna Weaver, depicts Lewis and Clark's first sighting of the Pacific Ocean with the inscription "Ocean in view! O! The Joy!" adapted from William Clark's journal entry. Die markers for attribution include a short die gouge extending northeast from the top of the H in THE and a die gouge positioned between the S of CENTS and the adjacent dot on the reverse, while the obverse shows no notable secondary markers. The Westward Journey Nickel Series ran from 2004 through 2005 with two unique reverse designs per year — Peace Medal and Keelboat in 2004, followed by American Bison and Ocean in View in 2005 — before transitioning to a new permanent obverse portrait and Monticello reverse in 2006. As the Wexler Variety ID 2005 D WDDR-002 business strike, this variety documents a hubbing misalignment that occurred during the preparation of a working die for Denver Mint production. The limited two-year window of the Westward Journey program means doubled die varieties on these designs exist in finite quantities determined by a narrow production period, adding scarcity value beyond the die variety attribution itself.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dan Chapman
• CDDR-004/CONECA DDR-002; Wexler Variety ID: 2005 D WDDR-002 Business Strike Ocean in View
• Expert attribution by Dan Chapman

External References