1939 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-013

Description

Attributed by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-0098 and DMR-015, the 1939 DDO-013 Washington Silver Quarter displays light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST and the upper right 1 of the date. The extremely selective doubling — affecting only the motto inscription and one portion of a single date digit — indicates the hub displacement was both small in magnitude and precisely oriented to exceed the visibility threshold only at these specific die face positions. Three die stages trace this working die's life: Stage A is early die state (unconfirmed); Stage B shows mid-die state with both obverse and reverse in MDS; Stage C reaches late die state with the obverse in LDS and a die crack running down the eagle's right wing on the reverse. The Stage C die crack down the eagle's wing provides a dramatic late-state marker that documents significant die fatigue at the end of this die's production run. The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan, struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver composition, weighing 6.25 grams at 24.3 mm diameter with a reeded edge. The 1939 Philadelphia issue was produced during the final years of the Great Depression, when mintage figures for silver denominations had begun recovering from the extremely low production levels of the early 1930s. As DDO-013, this variety demonstrates the thorough cataloging of Washington Quarter die varieties by VarietyVista researchers, with thirteen distinct doubled die obverses documented for the 1939 date alone. The light spread on IGWT is best examined under 10x magnification, with particular attention to the individual letter strokes where extra thickness or separation may indicate the hub displacement. The upper right portion of the 1 in the date serves as a secondary confirmation point.

Die Markers

• UVC-0098
• DMR-015
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die crack down eagle's Right wing – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References