1974-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Leading the obverse doubled die census for the 1974-S Eisenhower dollar silver proof, DDO-001 exhibits a light triple spread on IN GOD WE TRUST combined with double spread on the 19 of the date and the R of LIBERTY on Frank Gasparro's obverse portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The triple spread on the motto indicates three distinct hub impressions that failed to align precisely — creating two secondary images displaced from the primary across the IGWT inscription — while the date and LIBERTY show a simpler double spread with only one secondary impression. This combination of triple and double spread on a single die suggests the die received at least three hubbing operations with the first producing the double spread on date and LIBERTY elements, and a third impression adding the additional displacement visible only on IN GOD WE TRUST. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-068 and DMR-012, with three documented die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where both obverse and reverse surfaces show mid die state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The "Silver Proof" notation confirms this die served in the production of 40% silver proof Eisenhower dollars at San Francisco, which were sold in special Blue Ikes packaging as collector premiums. The 1974-S silver proof Eisenhower dollar had a mintage of approximately 1.31 million pieces, a controlled production run that generated fewer die pairs than business strike operations. As DDO-001, this represents the most significant obverse doubled die for the 1974-S silver proof issue, making it a priority attribution target for Eisenhower dollar variety collectors who should examine the IGWT motto under 10-15x magnification for the triple spread effect.

Die Markers

• UVC-068
• DMR-012
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Garland McKelvey
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References