1918-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

One of the most visually dramatic doubled die varieties in the Standing Liberty quarter series, DDO-001 on the 1918-S exhibits medium spread that creates the appearance of an 18 over 17 overdate. This apparent overdate is not genuine — it was not created by recutting a 1917-dated die — but rather by hub doubling during die manufacture, where a slight misalignment left a ghost image making the final digit appear to overlay a 7. Hermon A. MacNeil's Standing Liberty design (1916-1930) transitioned from the Type 1 exposed-breast design to the chain-mail-covered Type 2 in 1917; the 1918-S falls under Type 2. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this variety commands attention because the overdate-like appearance attracted collectors long before the doubled die mechanism was properly understood. Standing Liberty quarters are notoriously prone to date wear in circulation, making well-preserved examples with clear date doubling especially desirable.

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