1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista, the 1938 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003 on the Washington Silver Quarter displays light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, the letters LI of LIBERTY, and the date. The 1938 Washington Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver (6.25 grams, 24.3 mm diameter) with a mintage of 5,832,000 pieces — a relatively low production figure that reflected the lingering effects of the Great Depression on coin demand. John Flanagan designed the obverse portrait of George Washington, which debuted in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of Washington's birth and continued through 1998 before the State Quarter program modified the reverse. VarietyVista assigns die markers UVC-0079 and DMR-005 with three documented die states: Stage A at Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B at Mid Die State (unconfirmed), and Stage C showing the obverse at Late Die State with a die crack running down the eagle's right wing and another die crack from the S of PLURIBUS extending to the wing. The late die state crack development from PLURIBUS to the wing tip provides the most dramatic visual feature, though the doubling on IGWT and the date is the actual variety-defining characteristic. The light spread classification means magnification of at least 5x to 10x is recommended for reliable identification of the doubled elements on the motto and date.

Die Markers

• UVC-0079
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die crack down eagle's Right wing – LDS
• Die crack S of PLURIBUS to wing

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References