1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-0077 and DMR-003, DDO-001 on the 1938 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter documents hub doubling on GOD WE and UST of TRUST from the IN GOD WE TRUST motto. Struck in 90% silver, this pre-war quarter belongs to the early years of John Flanagan's design introduced in 1932. The doubling on GOD WE and UST concentrates diagnostics within the motto inscription above Washington's portrait, where secondary hub impressions displaced these letter groups from their primary positions. Die stage progression documents advancing die deterioration: Stage B at mid-die-state, Stage C at late die state with a die crack from the bust to the rim, and the progression through VLDS at very late die state. This crack path from Washington's bust to the rim traces a substantial structural fracture across the portrait zone. The 90% silver composition continued through 1964, and the 1938 date falls within the pre-World War II production era. The die crack progression from MDS through LDS to VLDS records the full structural failure timeline of this working die, providing collectors with die stage identification markers alongside the primary motto doubling diagnostic.

Die Markers

• UVC-0077
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse is MDS
• Reverse is LDS
• Stage C:
• Light die crack across bust – LDS
• Die crack down eagle's Right wing to Q of QUARTER – VLDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References