1945-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-006

Description

Light spread on the date, designer's initials JF (John Flanagan), and the ribbon end characterizes this sixth documented doubled die obverse for the 1945-S Washington Silver Quarter. Tracked by VarietyVista under die markers UVC-0574 and DMR-008, the die progressed through three stages: Stage A (EDS, unconfirmed), Stage B with both obverse and reverse in mid-die state (MDS), and Stage C showing the obverse in late die state (LDS) with a die chip on the eagle's wing south of the U of UNITED and a die crack running from the US of PLURIBUS to the wing. The reverse mintmark is identified as MMS-002 (trumpet tail with split serifs), a specific S mintmark punch variant used at the San Francisco Mint during this period. The 1945-S Washington Quarter was struck in the final year of World War II at the San Francisco Mint in 90% silver composition, and the wartime date adds historical context to this variety. Six documented DDO varieties for the 1945-S quarter indicate sustained research attention to this date. The Stage C die crack from PLURIBUS to the wing documents the die's progressive deterioration in its late life, and the trumpet-tail-with-split-serifs mintmark style (MMS-002) adds a mintmark attribution dimension that enhances the variety's diagnostic profile beyond the primary doubling characteristics.

Die Markers

• UVC-0574
• DMR-008
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die chip on wing South of U of UNITED – LDS
• Die crack from US of PLURIBUS to wing

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Feld
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References