1944 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-007

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die marker codes UVC-0383 and DMR-008, this 1944 Washington Silver Quarter DDO-007 exhibits medium extra thickness on the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and LIBERTY — three primary inscription groups across the obverse that all display the thickened appearance characteristic of closely spaced hub doubling where the secondary impression nearly overlaps the primary. Three die stages are documented: Stage A in early die state (EDS), unconfirmed; Stage B at mid-die-state (MDS), also unconfirmed; and Stage C in late die state (LDS) showing the obverse in LDS condition accompanied by a die crack running from the rim through the C of AMERICA and into the wing, parallel to the I of AMERICA on the reverse. The Stage C die crack path — rim through C into the wing — traces a specific route through the reverse die that documents the stress propagation pattern in the die steel during its final production phase. The Washington Silver Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1944 during World War II, composed of 90% silver weighing 6.25 grams with a diameter of 24.26 mm. John Flanagan designed the obverse portrait of George Washington based on Houdon's famous bust, with a heraldic eagle reverse featuring olive and laurel branches. The medium extra thickness classification indicates the doubling falls between the "light" and "strong" categories on the VarietyVista scale, meaning it is readily visible under 7x to 10x magnification but may not be immediately apparent to the unaided eye. The simultaneous appearance of extra thickness across the date, motto, and LIBERTY inscription confirms a hub displacement that affected the entire obverse die face with relatively uniform intensity.

Die Markers

• UVC-0383
• DMR-008
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die crack from rim through C of AMERICA into wing, parallel to I of AMERICA – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References