2005 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-068

Description

Attributed by Brian Ribar and cataloged as Wexler Variety ID 2005 P WDDR-068 Business Strike Ocean in View, this doubled die reverse was discovered on the 2005 Philadelphia Jefferson Nickel from the Westward Journey commemorative series. Brian Ribar, a well-known figure in die variety attribution, documented this as one of dozens of doubled die reverses identified on the prolific 2005 Ocean in View design. The reverse, designed by Joe Fitzgerald, captures the moment when the Lewis and Clark expedition first glimpsed the Pacific Ocean, with the famous journal inscription "Ocean in view! O! The Joy!" rendered in a calligraphic style that departs from conventional coin lettering. This handwriting-style text proved exceptionally sensitive to hub displacement, as the irregular letter forms and variable stroke widths create numerous diagnostic reference points where even subtle doubling becomes detectable. The 2005 Westward Journey nickel program featured two distinct reverse designs for that year — the "American Bison" (designed by Jamie Franki) and the "Ocean in View" — each paired with a new obverse portrait of Jefferson. The Ocean in View reverse generated a historically large number of documented DDR varieties, reflecting both the design's diagnostic sensitivity and the substantial die population required for Philadelphia's production volume. Struck in standard copper-nickel composition (75% copper, 25% nickel, 5.000 grams, 21.2 mm), this business strike issue is obtainable at modest cost, making it an accessible target for variety collectors willing to examine 2005-P nickels under magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Ribar
• Unknown; Wexler Variety ID: 2005 P WDDR-068 Business Strike Ocean in View
• Expert attribution by Brian Ribar

External References