1972-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Within the 1972-D Eisenhower dollar DDO census, the third entry DDO-003 shows a light double spread on IN GOD WE TRUST with triple impression on the upper serif of the numeral 1 in the date — a multi-impression feature indicating the die received at least three distinct hubbing events with progressive displacement. VarietyVista assigned identifiers UVC-095 and DMR-005, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where die scratches running southeast through WE appear on the obverse at mid die state and the reverse has also reached MDS, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The reverse die is identified as RDV-001, providing an additional attribution checkpoint. Frank Gasparro designed both sides of the Eisenhower dollar: the obverse features Dwight D. Eisenhower's left-facing portrait, while the reverse depicts the Apollo 11 mission insignia with an eagle landing on the lunar surface — a design that commemorated both the thirty-fourth president and the 1969 moon landing. Denver struck approximately 92.55 million Eisenhower dollars in 1972 for general circulation, making it among the higher-mintage dates in a series whose large size (38.1mm diameter) challenged production machinery and consumed dies at elevated rates compared to smaller denominations. The triple impression on the upper serif of the 1 in the date is a particularly precise diagnostic — the small area of the serif makes three overlapping impressions relatively easy to distinguish under moderate magnification, serving as a confirmation point more specific than the broader light doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST. Collectors should verify the southeast die scratches through WE to confirm the die, then examine the upper serif of the 1 under 10-15x magnification for three distinct impressions, followed by IN GOD WE TRUST for the complementary light double spread.

Die Markers

• UVC-095
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die scratches Southeast through WE – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References