1974-D Variety WMHR-001

Description

Representing a master hub level doubling event, the 1974-D Eisenhower dollar WMHR-001 documents a spread towards the center visible on ONE DOLLAR, the designer's initials (FG for Frank Gasparro), and the lunar craters on the Apollo 11 mission insignia reverse. Master hub doubling occupies the highest level in the die manufacturing hierarchy — above working hub and working die events — meaning the doubling was established on the master hub itself and subsequently propagated to every master die, working hub, and working die descended from it. Cross-referenced as CONECA: SD-2-R-II-C+VI, this variety carries the additional notation that because the doubling originated on a master hub, it was intended to remain in use over a period of several years, and working dies with the exact same doubling characteristics are known to exist for 1974, 1977, and 1978 Eisenhower dollars. Differences in the doubling's appearance across these years result from cumulative wear at each level of the manufacturing chain — master hub wear, master die wear, working hub wear, working die wear, and finally coin wear — creating a progression of diminishing clarity from the earliest to latest uses of the affected master hub. The centripetal spread direction (towards the center) on ONE DOLLAR and the designer's initials indicates the secondary hub impression compressed slightly inward relative to the primary, a directional pattern consistent with certain Class II and Class VI doubling mechanisms. Denver struck Eisenhower dollars in 1974 as part of the standard business-strike production program. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1974-D $1 WMHR-001, this variety provides a fascinating window into the multi-year propagation of die manufacturing characteristics through the Mint's hierarchical die production system.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Various Cross References: CONECA: SD-2-R-II-C+VI Comments: Because this was a master hub it was intended to be used over a period of several years. Working dies with the exact same doubling are known to exist for the years 1974, 1977, and 1978. Differences in the appearance of the doubling will result from master hub wear, master die wear, working hub wear, working die wear, as well as coin wear.
• CONECA: SD-2-R-II-C+VI Comments: Because this was a master hub it was intended to be used over a period of several years. Working dies with the exact same doubling are known to exist for the years 1974, 1977, and 1978. Differences in the appearance of the doubling will result from master hub wear, master die wear, working hub wear, working die wear, as well as coin wear.; Wexler Variety ID: 1974-D $1 WMHR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References