1941 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Documented by VarietyVista, the 1941 DDR-002 Washington Silver Quarter presents strong spread to the north on the beak, arrows, and wreath — sharing the same directional spread pattern as the DDR-018 from the same year but originating from a different die, as confirmed by the distinct die marker profiles. Die markers UVC-0168 / DMR-018 track three progressive stages: Stage A at EDS (unconfirmed); Stage B with both reverse and obverse at MDS; and Stage C at LDS displaying a die crack from the lower I to the upper E of ITE in UNITED, a light die crack across the upper hair, and a die crack across the bust. The die crack connecting the lower I to the upper E in UNITED traces a specific path through adjacent letters, documenting a fracture line that propagated through the reverse die face along the stress pattern created by the inscription's closely spaced letter recesses. The Stage C die crack pattern differs from the DDR-018's Stage C cracks, confirming these are distinct working dies despite producing similar northward spread on the same design elements. The Washington Quarter was designed by John Flanagan and struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1941, composed of 90% silver at 6.25 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter. The presence of at least 18 cataloged doubled die reverses for the 1941 date — with DDR-002 being the second listed — indicates that 1941 was a particularly prolific year for reverse hub varieties in the Washington Quarter series, consistent with high wartime production volumes at the Philadelphia Mint.

Die Markers

• UVC-0168
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Die crack lower I to upper E of ITE of UNITED – LDS
• Light die crack across upper hair – LDS
• Die crack across bust

Attribution History

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

External References