1936 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-008

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with die identifier UVC-0712 and die marker reference DMR-016, the 1936 Washington Silver Quarter DDO-008 exhibits light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST and the date — motto and date doubling that affects the principal inscription elements on the obverse die face. While the spread is classified as light, indicating modest separation between primary and secondary impressions, the involvement of both the motto and date provides multiple areas for collectors to verify the variety's attribution. Three die stages document the working die's progression: Stage A in early die state (EDS), unconfirmed; Stage B at mid-die-state (MDS) featuring three concurrent die cracks — one across the upper hair of Washington's portrait, one on the wing under AME of AMERICA on the reverse, and one on the eagle's right wing; and Stage C at late die state (LDS), unconfirmed. The three simultaneous die cracks at Stage B document widespread structural deterioration affecting both the obverse and reverse dies concurrently, suggesting this die pair experienced accelerated wear during its production run. John Flanagan designed the Washington Quarter in 1932, based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's celebrated 1785 marble bust of George Washington. The heraldic eagle reverse design served continuously from 1932 through 1998. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1936 in 90% silver composition (90% silver, 10% copper) weighing 6.25 grams with a 24.26 mm diameter. The 1936 Philadelphia mintage was approximately 41.3 million pieces, produced during the mid-Depression era. The light doubling on motto and date combined with the well-documented three-crack Stage B deterioration pattern provides both hub-origin and die-life diagnostics for this variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-0712
• DMR-016
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack across upper hair – MDS
• Die crack on wing under AME of AMERICA – MDS
• Die crack on eagle's Right wing
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by ZAP's Coins
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References