2017 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-013

Description

Thirteenth in the Wexler-documented reverse doubled die census for the 2017 Jefferson nickel, WDDR-013 exhibits Class VIII tilted hub doubling visible above and below the upper portion of the door frame on the center door above the steps of Felix Schlag's Monticello depiction. Class VIII doubling results from a hub that contacts the die at a slight tilt rather than perfectly parallel, creating varying degrees of displacement across the design depending on each element's distance from the tilt axis. The center door and its frame on the Monticello reverse provide precisely defined geometric elements — straight vertical and horizontal lines — where even subtle displacement becomes detectable as a deviation from the expected architecture. Obverse die markers offer a distinctive identification aid: a die gouge protrudes from Jefferson's head at approximately the K-12 clock position (roughly noon), providing a unique diagnostic feature to confirm the correct die pair before searching for the more subtle reverse doubling. No significant reverse die markers beyond the doubling itself were noted. Philadelphia struck hundreds of millions of nickels in 2017 as part of the Return to Monticello design that has been in continuous use since 2006, restoring the original Schlag reverse after the 2004-2005 Westward Journey commemorative program. The door frame area above the steps occupies a central position on the Monticello facade, and the rectilinear architecture of Thomas Jefferson's neoclassical villa provides an ideal diagnostic surface — any doubling manifests as a visible offset of straight lines that should otherwise be perfectly aligned. Collectors should first locate the die gouge at the K-12 position on Jefferson's head to verify the correct die, then turn attention to the reverse center door under 15-20x magnification, examining the top of the door frame for displaced secondary impressions above and below the horizontal frame member.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Die gouge protrudes from Jefferson's head at about K-12.
• Reverse: None noted.

External References