1940-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Recorded by VarietyVista (UVC-0145, DMR-003), this doubled die obverse on the 1940 San Francisco Washington Quarter exhibits light spread on the OD of GOD, WE, and UST of TRUST. Three die stages have been documented. Stage A shows both obverse and reverse in early-to-mid die state. Stage B advances to mid-die state with a light die crack across the upper hair and a light die crack running across the designer's initials to the ribbon, while the reverse is also in mid-die state. Stage C is cataloged as late die state, though this remains unconfirmed. The 1940-S Washington Quarter was struck in 90% silver at the San Francisco Mint, which produced approximately 2.8 million quarters that year — a comparatively modest mintage that makes die varieties from this date more challenging to locate in quantity. The light spread across multiple elements of the IN GOD WE TRUST motto, while subtle, is consistent and identifiable with magnification. Die cracks progressing through the hair and designer's initials across successive stages document the deterioration of this obverse die through its service life at the San Francisco facility.

Die Markers

• UVC-0145
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EMDS
• Stage B:
• Light die crack across upper hair – MDS
• Light die crack across designer's initials to ribbon
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References