2005 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-038

Description

Attributed to the 2005 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson Nickel featuring the "Ocean in View" Westward Journey reverse, this thirty-eighth documented doubled die reverse carries diagnostic die cracks on Jefferson's upper lip and the tip of his nose on the obverse. The reverse shows a die gouge above the dot between 1805 and FIVE, along with a die dot below the P of E PLURIBUS UNUM. Cross-referenced as CDDR-050/CONECA DDR-041 and Wexler Variety ID: 2005 P WDDR-038 Business Strike Ocean in View, this variety was attributed by Kenneth Russell. The 2005 Westward Journey nickels represent one of the most creatively ambitious design programs in modern U.S. Mint history — the "Ocean in View" reverse depicts the Pacific Ocean coastline with the inscribed words from William Clark's journal entry of November 7, 1805. This was one of two special reverse designs for 2005, paired with the "American Bison" type, commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition's journey across the continent. The sheer number of doubled die reverses cataloged for the 2005 Ocean in View design — thirty-eight by the Wexler count alone — reflects both collector enthusiasm for this historic commemorative design and the intensive die variety research applied to Westward Journey nickels during and after their year of issue.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kenneth Russell
• CDDR-050/CONECA DDR-041; Wexler Variety ID: 2005 P WDDR-038 Business Strike Ocean in View
• Expert attribution by Kenneth Russell

External References