2023 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Cataloged by Brian A. Ribar as a "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Variety, the 2023-P WDDO-002 Jefferson Nickel exhibits very strong Class VIII (Tilted Hub Doubling) visible on the date, the P mintmark, the Y of LIBERTY, and the full inscription IN GOD WE TRUST. Class VIII tilted hub doubling occurs when the working hub contacts the working die at a slight angular tilt rather than perfectly parallel, creating differential displacement across the die face — design elements on one side of the tilt axis show greater spread than those on the opposite side. The strength of this variety earned it inclusion in Ribar's curated "Best Of" list, a designation reserved for the most visually dramatic and collectible doubled dies within the Jefferson Nickel series. Die markers on the obverse include a die dot to the left of Jefferson's nose, a die gouge in the hair above the left side of the forehead, a die gouge to the upper left of the right eye, and a die gouge in the field above the B of LIBERTY — four distinct markers providing multiple confirmation points for die identification. The reverse die paired with this obverse is itself a doubled die, listed separately as 2023-P 5-cent WDDR-046, creating a DDO/DDR combination that doubles the variety's significance. The Jefferson Nickel was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 2023, featuring Jamie Franki's updated obverse portrait introduced in 2006 and the Return to Monticello reverse. Composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, the coin weighs 5.0 grams with a 21.21 mm diameter. The very strong doubling on both the date and IN GOD WE TRUST makes this one of the most prominent modern Jefferson Nickel doubled dies, with the tilted hub mechanism producing a distinctive graduated spread pattern readily visible under moderate magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian A. Ribar
• Wexler Variety ID: 2023-P WDDO-002 "Best Of" Nickel Doubled Die Varieties
• Expert attribution by Brian A. Ribar

External References