1956 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-006

Description

Extending its doubling from inscriptions onto a specific design element, DDR-006 on the 1956 Proof Washington Quarter displays medium spread on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the eagle's plume feather detail. Lee Hiemke reported this variety. John Flanagan's reverse features a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings clutching olive and laurel branches, and the eagle's plumage is rendered with fine parallel lines that provide a sensitive surface where medium hub displacement creates clearly visible offset between primary and secondary feather impressions. The inclusion of the plume among the affected areas is diagnostically distinctive — while inscription doubling is common across all denominations, the involvement of a pictorial design element narrows the pool of similar varieties and simplifies attribution. Medium spread across three separate areas — two text zones and one design feature — indicates a hub displacement broad enough to affect multiple portions of the reverse die simultaneously. Struck as a 90% silver proof at the Philadelphia Mint, this quarter weighs 6.25 grams and was produced on polished planchets with mirror-finish dies. The proof surface quality enhances visibility of the medium spread on both the inscriptions and the delicate plume lines. The 1956 proof quarter was available exclusively through annual proof sets, and DDR-006's catalog position reflects thorough documentation of proof varieties for this popular collector date.

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