1973-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Medium spread across all rim lettering, stars, craters, and E PLURIBUS UNUM — with the strongest doubling concentrated on the lower portion of the coin, especially on DOLLAR — defines this third doubled die reverse for the 1973-S Eisenhower Dollar. Cataloged in the VarietyVista system as UVC-103 with DMR-009, DDR-003 has three documented die states: Stage A with both reverse and obverse in early die state, Stage B in mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C in late die state (unconfirmed). The coin is noted as copper-nickel clad composition (CN Clad), distinguishing it from the 40% silver proof and uncirculated Eisenhower Dollars also struck at San Francisco during this period. The reverse design of the Eisenhower Dollar features the Apollo 11 mission patch — an eagle landing on the lunar surface with the Earth visible above — and the "craters" referenced in the doubling description are the lunar surface details that display doubled impressions alongside the peripheral lettering and stars. Frank Gasparro's reverse design, adapted from the Apollo 11 patch designed by astronaut Michael Collins, carries exceptional detail in the lunar landscape that becomes visually compelling when doubled. The concentration of stronger doubling on the lower portion, particularly DOLLAR, indicates a hub doubling event where the displacement was greatest at the bottom of the die — consistent with a slight pivot or tilt during the hubbing process. The Eisenhower Dollar series (1971-1978) was the last large-format dollar coin, and DDR varieties on these oversized coins are particularly dramatic due to the 38.1mm diameter providing ample surface area for visible doubling.

Die Markers

• UVC-103
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ward Miller
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References