1940 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Light spread visible on the D of GOD, the letters WE, and the ST of TRUST characterizes this second documented doubled die obverse for the 1940 Philadelphia Mint Washington Silver Quarter. Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-0116 and DMR-004, this variety has been documented across three die stages: Stage A in Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B where both obverse and reverse are in Mid Die State, and Stage C in Late Die State (unconfirmed). The presence of three documented stages indicates the die saw extended service before being retired, and each stage represents a different point in the die's working life that can be identified through progressive wear patterns and developing die cracks. Washington Quarters of 1940 were struck in 90% silver on planchets weighing 6.25 grams, part of John Flanagan's iconic design that debuted in 1932. The doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST reflects a hubbing anomaly during die preparation, when the hub was impressed into the die blank at a slightly shifted position during one of the multiple impressions required to fully sink the design. Philadelphia struck over 35.7 million quarters in 1940, and only two doubled die obverses have been documented for the date, making DDO-002 a scarce find for variety specialists.

Die Markers

• UVC-0116
• DMR-004
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

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

External References