1936 Buffalo Nickel, Maybe Doubled Die Obverse / DDO -002?

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 663
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6498 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 12:40 pm Having a hard time either confirming or rejecting this nickel as a doubled die obverse. It does have a super thick E in Liberty. Depending on the lighting, the horizontal leg of the L either looks thick or not so much. Same with the T crossbar. Seller pics first, then my pics. Report this Post to the Staff

Dearborn Moderator United States 95740 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 3:03 pm not sure on this one Brand, the 'L' is not thick as it should be as well. Have a look at uruman's '36 DDO... https://goccf.com/t/481755 Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
fortcollins Pillar of the Community United States 3642 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 3:23 pm The 1936 DDO-002 is difficult to spot, even on high grade EDS/EMDS coins. I agree with Dearborn, the thickness doesn't look thick enough. I've only seen a couple of them over the years, and on the couple I've seen, a very light horizontal line is visible in the crossbar of the "T" in LIBERTY. I don't see quite the date thickness on yours, either. Ron Pope identified one marker, a die scratch "at the bottom of IC in AMERICA." The Wexler site mentions this marker. I've never seen the marker scratch photos, even on the coins that clearly were DDO-002, so I'm not sure what Ron saw there. Brian Ribar is the walking encyclopedia of five cent attributions. He could do a rule in / rule out on this in a heartbeat. Just from where I sit, I don't see this one being DDO-002. Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6498 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 3:23 pm Edit: looks like fortcollins and I posted at the same time. I was replying to Dearborn. Yes. The 1936 nickel DDO that uruman posted is DDO-001 (FS-101). That chunkiness is super thick. I believe that this coin might be an example of the second 1936 doubled die obverse, DDO-002 (FS-102). The doubling is nowhere near as strong as DDO-001. http://www.varietyvista.com/03%20Bu...6PDDO002.htm https://doubleddie.com/1130529.html https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin...s-102/569455 Due to DDO-002 being less extreme, I am not very confident in my ability to distinguish it from die wear or circulation flattening. The entries do not list any markers except a die scratch through the IC of America. But there are no marker images, and I wasn't able to locate it on this coin or on any of the PCGS certified examples. Edited by Brandmeister 07/07/2025 3:30 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6498 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 3:59 pm @fortcollins, one thing that I found a bit confusing was that this coin seems much closer to the PCGS examples than the Variety Vista and Wexler entries for DDO-002. What's your opinion on the coins certified by PCGS? It wasn't even completely clear to me that FS-102 = DDO-002. Neither of the catalog entries specifically states a cross-reference. I just assumed that they are equivalent. I am slowly building another submission package of modern nickel DDR candidates for the Wexler catalog. Perhaps Brian Ribar would agree to examine this Buffalo nickel along with the other submissions. Or maybe the Wexler non-JN team would look at it, although I imagine their backlog might be sizable. Report this Post to the Staff
fortcollins Pillar of the Community United States 3642 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 7:14 pm Quote: @fortcollins, one thing that I found a bit confusing was that this coin seems much closer to the PCGS examples than the Variety Vista and Wexler entries for DDO-002. What's your opinion on the coins certified by PCGS? It wasn't even completely clear to me that FS-102 = DDO-002. Neither of the catalog entries specifically states a cross-reference. I just assumed that they are equivalent. I am slowly building another submission package of modern nickel DDR candidates for the Wexler catalog. Perhaps Brian Ribar would agree to examine this Buffalo nickel along with the other submissions. Or maybe the Wexler non-JN team would look at it, although I imagine their backlog might be sizable. @Brandmeister, Brian Ribar does the nickel attributions for the Wexler site. I will absolutely yield to PCGS/Brian/Wexler's site/ANACS/VSS on their determination. This one is a tough attribution in any stage and grade. The couple that I have seen in hand were EDS and high AU, and they were still a real challenge. The Buff DDOs/DDRs in general are brutal, simply because of the cluttered design, poor strike/die state/die polishing/heavy wear issues, and the prevalence of Machine Doubling. It's the perfect storm. Hang in there. You may well have one. Report this Post to the Staff
Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 74060 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 9:33 pm In my opinion, I don't think it's DDO-002. Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 95740 Posts	Posted 07/07/2025 9:35 pm Quote: looks like fortcollins and I posted at the same time. I was replying to Dearborn. Yes. The 1936 nickel DDO that uruman posted is DDO-001 (FS-101). That chunkiness is super thick. I believe that this coin might be an example of the second 1936 doubled die obverse, DDO-002 (FS-102). The doubling is nowhere near as strong as DDO-001. Right, I was just commenting on the differences of the 'L' between your 2 DDO's. At first I thought you were saying is could be the 001, even thou you stated 002 in your title. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Brandmeister Pillar of the Community United States 6498 Posts	Posted 07/08/2025 11:45 am Quote: The Buff DDOs/DDRs in general are brutal, simply because of the cluttered design, poor strike/die state/die polishing/heavy wear issues, and the prevalence of Machine Doubling. It's the perfect storm. Actually, I think that particular challenge increases the appeal for me. Denominations with strong doubled dies seem to be thoroughly picked over. Valuable coins that are difficult to identify have already deflected 90% of collectors searching for them. Report this Post to the Staff
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1936 Buffalo Nickel, Maybe DDO-002?