1944 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-033

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-0409 with die marriage DMR-034, this 1944 Philadelphia Mint Washington Quarter exhibits a light doubled die obverse spread on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. Three die stages have been documented: Stage A represents the early die state, Stage B is the mid-die state, and Stage C shows a die crack across the forehead and hair along with a die crack across the bust extending into the top of the 1 in the date, marking the late die state. The reverse also shows signs of late die state wear by Stage C. The progression from light doubling on a fresh die to significant cracking in the late die state illustrates how dies deteriorated under the heavy production demands of wartime coinage. Struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, the 1944 Washington Quarter was produced during World War II when the Mint maintained silver composition for quarters while altering the alloy of other denominations to conserve strategic metals. John Flanagan's Washington Quarter design had been in production since 1932, featuring the first president's portrait adapted from Jean-Antoine Houdon's famous bust. The light spread across multiple obverse design elements provides several diagnostic areas for attribution under moderate magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-0409
• DMR-034
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Die crack across forehead and hair – LDS
• Die crack across bust into top of 1 of date
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References