1934 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-007

Description

Carrying VarietyVista codes UVC-016 and DMR-011, the seventh doubled die obverse for the 1934 Philadelphia Mint Washington Silver Quarter presents light spread on LIBERTY alongside notable die stage progression that includes dramatic late-die-state cracking. Three documented stages reveal an evolving die condition: Stage A represents early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B remains at mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C shows a strong die crack across the bust extending through the 1 of the date plus a separate die crack across the hair extending to the T of LIBERTY — both characteristic of late die state deterioration. The obverse is further classified as ODV-002 (Medium Motto), a sub-variety designation within the Washington Quarter obverse die variety system that tracks differences in the IN GOD WE TRUST motto's size and positioning. The 1934 Washington Quarter represents only the third year of the series, and dies from this early period show characteristics of a design still being refined for mass production. John Flanagan's Washington portrait had been adapted from a Jean-Antoine Houdon bust, and the translation of three-dimensional sculpture into coin relief presented unique challenges for die production. Light spread on LIBERTY indicates a subtle hub misalignment during die sinking, and the late-die-state cracks that developed as the die aged provide additional diagnostic markers that help variety researchers differentiate between Stage C specimens and earlier strikes. The combination of doubled die obverse classification with the ODV-002 motto variety designation makes DDO-007 a multi-attribute entry that intersects two different variety specialties within Washington Quarter numismatics.

Die Markers

• UVC-016
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Strong die crack across bust extending through 1 of date – LDS
• Die crack across hair extending to T of LIBERTY
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References