1946-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista, the 1946-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002 on the Washington Silver Quarter displays light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST and the date. The 1946-S Washington Quarter was struck at the San Francisco Mint in 90% silver (6.25 grams, 24.3 mm diameter) during the first year of peacetime post-World War II coin production, when demand for circulating coinage surged as the wartime economy transitioned and consumer spending increased dramatically. The 1946-S had a mintage of 4,204,000 pieces, a modest figure that keeps the date modestly above common status. John Flanagan's Washington portrait obverse and heraldic eagle reverse design remained unchanged from its 1932 debut. VarietyVista assigns die markers UVC-0629 and DMR-004 with three documented die stages: Stage A at Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B with both obverse and reverse at Mid Die State, and Stage C at Late Die State showing a die crack across Washington's forehead and hair, a die crack across the base of the bust, and the reverse also at LDS. The dramatic forehead-and-hair crack at Stage C creates a visually prominent feature that dominates the obverse of late die state specimens, though the variety-defining doubling on IGWT and the date is present from the earliest die state. The light spread designation means magnification of at least 10x is recommended for reliably identifying the doubled motto and date elements, particularly on circulated specimens where wear may diminish the visibility of subtle hub doubling.

Die Markers

• UVC-0629
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Die crack across forehead and hair – LDS
• Die crack across base of bust
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ward Miller
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References