1943 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-039

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as DDO-039 with die marker code UVC-0490 and die marker reverse DMR-047, this doubled die obverse variety appears on a 1943 Washington quarter. The Washington quarter, designed by John Flanagan based on a bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon, was struck in 90% silver and 10% copper during 1932-1964, weighing 6.25 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter and a reeded edge. Produced during World War II, when the Mint altered coin compositions for some denominations to conserve strategic metals for the war effort, the silver quarter's composition remained unchanged throughout the conflict. The primary doubling on DDO-039 presents as a medium spread on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the ribbon end below Washington's ponytail, affecting multiple major obverse design elements across a broad area of the die face. This widespread distribution of doubling across both the motto and peripheral inscriptions suggests significant hub displacement during the die-making process. Three die stages have been identified. Stage A shows both the obverse and reverse in early-to-mid die state. Stage B develops a die crack across the hair and a separate die crack across the bust on the obverse, with the reverse reaching mid die state. Stage C represents late die state, unconfirmed. The progression from no cracks in Stage A to two distinct cracks across different portions of Washington's portrait in Stage B indicates the obverse die was experiencing increasing structural stress during its service life. Washington quarters from 1943 were struck during a period of high demand for circulating coinage, and the war years generated numerous die varieties as production pressures limited the time available for quality control during die manufacturing. DDO-039's medium-strength spread makes it detectable with moderate magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-0490
• DMR-047
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EMDS
• Stage B:
• Die crack across hair – MDS
• Die crack across bust
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

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

External References