2005 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-042

Description

Co-attributed by Edward Fletcher, Jr. (Stage A) and Kenneth Russell (Stage B), and carrying the Wexler Variety ID 2005 P WDDR-042 Business Strike Ocean in View, this doubled die reverse variety appears on a 2005 Philadelphia Mint Jefferson nickel from the Westward Journey series. The Ocean in View design depicts the Pacific coastline as witnessed by the Lewis and Clark expedition, with William Clark's famous journal quotation. The nickel is composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, weighing 5.0 grams with a 21.2 mm diameter. Cross-referenced as CDDR-048 and CONECA DDR-026, this variety is documented across multiple attribution services. The dual attribution by Fletcher and Russell for different die stages reflects the collaborative nature of modern variety research, where different collectors may discover and document the same die at different points in its working life. Stage A, attributed by Fletcher, represents the earlier die state, while Stage B, attributed by Russell, documents the later die state with additional die deterioration features. The distinction between die stages is important for collectors because early die state specimens typically show the doubling more clearly before die wear begins to obscure fine details, while later die state examples may show additional die cracks or chips that provide supplementary attribution markers. With forty-two or more DDR varieties cataloged for the 2005 Philadelphia Ocean in View nickel, this design has proven to be among the most productive in modern U.S. coinage for doubled die discovery. The Ocean in View reverse's landscape composition and extended text inscription provide abundant diagnostic points where hub doubling manifests, and the collaborative documentation efforts of multiple attributors ensure that each variety is thoroughly examined and properly cataloged for the collecting community.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Stage A:  Edward Fletcher, Jr.        Stage B:  Kenneth Russell
• CDDR-048/CONECA DDR-026; Wexler Variety ID: 2005 P WDDR-042 Business Strike Ocean in View
• Expert attribution by Stage A:  Edward Fletcher, Jr.        Stage B:  Kenneth Russell

External References