1944-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Noteworthy for its four-stage die progression — one more than typical — this fourth doubled die obverse for the 1944 San Francisco Mint Washington Silver Quarter presents very light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, tracked by VarietyVista under codes UVC-0441 and DMR-006, the motto positioned above Washington's portrait. This variety is distinguished by a four-stage die progression — more stages than the typical three — documenting extended die service: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid-die state (unconfirmed), Stage C where both obverse and reverse reach late-mid die state, and Stage D where the obverse enters true late die state with a die crack from the rim into the eagle's wing through the R of AMERICA. The additional fourth stage indicates this die pair remained in service through substantial production volume, accumulating progressive deterioration that created increasingly distinct attribution markers at each stage. A secondary classification notes that the reverse is listed as MMS-003 (Large), identifying the mint mark size variant — the large S mint mark — punched into this particular reverse die. The 1944-S quarter was a wartime issue struck on the standard 90% silver, 10% copper composition at San Francisco, a facility that maintained robust coinage production throughout the war years. Very light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST places this at the subtle end of the doubled die spectrum, requiring careful examination under appropriate magnification to confirm the hub doubling against the motto's letter strokes. The four-stage documentation provides collectors with a progression framework for identifying their specimens' relative position within the die's service life, from pristine early strikes through the crack-marked terminal stage.

Die Markers

• UVC-0441
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LMDS
• Stage D:
• Obverse is LDS
• Die crack from rim into wing through R of AMERICA – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References