1951 VDDO VDDO-007

Description

Seventh in the obverse doubled die census for the 1951 Washington quarter proof, VDDO-007 shows light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST — John Flanagan's motto inscription positioned above Washington's head on the quarter obverse in production since 1932. VarietyVista cataloged this variety with die marker codes that remain partially unassigned (UVC-0??? and DMR-0??), suggesting the die classification was in progress when the entry was created. Three die stages are documented: Stage A where both obverse and reverse surfaces exhibit early-to-mid die state (EMDS), Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The comments identify this as a proof issue with the obverse designated as ODV-005 (Obverse Design Variant 005), establishing a dual classification that combines the doubled die attribution with a distinct obverse design variant. Proof Washington quarters in 1951 were struck at Philadelphia with a mintage of approximately 57,500 proof sets, a modest figure by modern standards that limits the total population of any proof-only variety. Proof die doubling carries particular collector appeal because the polished die surfaces and specially prepared planchets produce coins with mirror fields and frosted devices that provide high-contrast backgrounds against which even light doubling becomes more visually apparent than on business-strike surfaces. Light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST indicates the doubling requires careful examination under magnification to confirm, as the secondary impression closely overlaps the primary. The ODV-005 classification adds a second attributable characteristic to this die, potentially involving design element differences unrelated to the hub doubling that further distinguish it from standard 1951 proof quarter dies.

Die Markers

• UVC-0???
• DMR-0??
• Stage
• A:
• Obverse and Reverse are
• EMDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Steve Mallory
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References