1953 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Third documented doubled die reverse for the 1953 Washington Silver Quarter, DDR-003 displays a light spread on the lower serifs of QUARTER DOLLAR, both stem tips, and RICA of AMERICA — multiple reverse legend and design elements affected by a single hub doubling event. The VarietyVista classification assigns UVC-0816 and die marriage reference DMR-006, with a detailed die stage progression: Stage A in early die state features a U-shaped die gouge on the eagle's right leg and a die crack from rim to wing through the C of AMERICA, with the obverse also in early die state. Stages B and C in middle and late die state remain unconfirmed. The proof designation in the comments field indicates this variety was struck as a proof coin, a significant detail that places it among the specially prepared coins sold to collectors rather than business strikes intended for circulation. Proof dies receive extra polishing and proofs are struck multiple times on mirror-finished planchets, and the presence of hub doubling on a proof die demonstrates that the doubling occurred during die manufacture — before the die entered the proof striking chamber. The U-shaped die gouge on the eagle's leg and the rim-to-wing die crack provide strong diagnostic markers that help attributors identify this variety even in the absence of dramatic doubling. Cataloged by VarietyVista, DDR-003 documents a hub doubling event on a proof Washington Quarter from the early 1950s, adding to the collecting depth of a series that spans nine decades.

Die Markers

• UVC-0816
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• U shaped die gouge on eagle's Right leg – EDS
• Die crack from rim to wing through C of AMERICA
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References