1948-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-0679 and DMR-003, this 1948-S Washington Silver Quarter doubled die reverse has been tracked across three die stages documenting the die's progressive deterioration during its production run at the San Francisco Mint. Stage A represents the Early Die State (unconfirmed), with clean die surfaces and no significant deterioration markers. Stage B advances to Mid Die State, distinguished by several vertical die scratches through the L of PLURIBUS on the reverse, while the obverse also reaches MDS condition — these vertical scratches through the L provide a diagnostic marker that both confirms the die identity and establishes the die state. Stage C reaches Late Die State (unconfirmed). The 1948-S Washington Quarter was struck at the San Francisco Mint in the original 90% silver and 10% copper composition that remained standard for quarters through 1964. The coin weighs 6.25 grams with a diameter of 24.3 mm and features a reeded edge. John Flanagan's reverse design features a heraldic eagle with spread wings perched on a bundle of arrows, flanked by olive branches, with E PLURIBUS UNUM and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscribed above — the PLURIBUS inscription where the diagnostic die scratches through the L appear during Stage B. As DDR-002, this variety holds the second catalog position among documented doubled die reverses for the 1948-S date, indicating it is either the second most significant or second earliest-documented reverse hub doubling variety for this San Francisco Mint issue. The vertical die scratch pattern through the L provides an especially clean authentication marker for collectors attributing specimens to this specific die.

Die Markers

• UVC-0679
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Several vertical die scratches through L of PLURIBUS – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References