1916 Buffalo Nickel (1913-1938)
Doubled Die Obverse (DDO)
Key Features
The 1916 Doubled Die Obverse Buffalo nickel is the key variety of the series, showing strong, bold doubling on LIBERTY and the date that is clearly visible without magnification, making it one of the most visually dramatic doubled dies in American coinage. Genuine doubling shows widely separated, crisp images on LIBERTY and '1916' with no doubling on the reverse (which was struck by a normal die); die deterioration doubling â which shows shelving on just one side of letters â is worthless and commonly misrepresented as the DDO. Most survivors are in circulated grades due to the coin's heavy use during World War I and the 1920s; Mint State examples are exceedingly rare and valuable. Authentication by PCGS or NGC is strongly advised â the substantial premium for a genuine 1916 DDO makes misattribution and fraud commercially worthwhile. If you believe you have found one of these coins, contact Frostbyte Coins at frostbytecoins@gmail.com or through our YouTube channel @FrostbyteCoins â we
Intriguing History
A Philadelphia die for the very first full year of Buffalo nickel production picked up a visible doubled impression, creating one of the earliest and most sought-after doubled-die varieties James Earle Fraser's new bison design would ever produce.