1945-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-0551 and DMR-007, this 1945-D Washington Silver Quarter doubled die obverse has been documented across three die stages tracking the working die's progressive deterioration. Stage A represents the Early Die State (unconfirmed), where die surfaces show minimal wear. Stage B advances to Mid Die State, characterized by a light die crack developing across the bust of George Washington on the obverse, while the reverse also reaches MDS condition — this bust crack provides a critical diagnostic marker for establishing die state and confirming the correct working die. Stage C reaches Late Die State (unconfirmed). The 1945-D Washington Quarter was struck at the Denver Mint during the final year of World War II, in the original 90% silver and 10% copper composition that had been standard since the denomination's 1932 introduction — a composition that would continue through 1964 before the transition to copper-nickel clad. The coin weighs 6.25 grams with a diameter of 24.3 mm and a reeded edge. John Flanagan's obverse portrait of George Washington, based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's 1785 bust, provides a smooth field area across the bust where die cracks develop progressively and are easily tracked between die states. As DDO-005, this variety is the fifth documented doubled die obverse for the 1945-D date, positioned within a family of wartime Denver Mint varieties that have been systematically examined by Washington Quarter variety specialists. The die crack across the bust in Stage B serves as both a die state indicator and an independent authentication marker beyond the hub doubling itself.

Die Markers

• UVC-0551
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Light die crack across bust – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage c:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References