1971-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-557 and DMR-002, this first doubled die obverse for the 1971-S Roosevelt Dime shows light spread on the date, the designer's initials JS (John R. Sinnock), and IN GOD WE TRUST. Die state records document Stage A with both obverse and reverse at Early Die State, while Stage B (Mid Die State) and Stage C (Late Die State) remain unconfirmed. The 1971-S dime carries special significance as a San Francisco Mint product during a transitional period — San Francisco was shifting from a facility that struck coins for circulation to one that primarily produced proof and collector issues, though some circulation strikes were still produced. The S mintmark on a 1971 dime could indicate either a proof striking or a circulation issue, and determining which requires examination of the coin's surface characteristics. Light spread on the date, designer's initials, and IN GOD WE TRUST indicates that the hub displacement affected the lower-left quadrant of the obverse die, where these three design elements cluster around Roosevelt's profile. John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime design had been in continuous production since 1946, and by 1971 the modern clad composition was six years old. The DDO-001 designation as the first documented doubled die obverse suggests this variety may have been discovered early in the systematic research of 1971-S dime dies.

Die Markers

• UVC-557
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References