1956 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-009

Description

Reported by Lee Hiemke, DDO-009 on the 1956 Philadelphia Washington quarter exhibits light spread on LIBERTY. The 1956 quarter was struck in 90% silver at the Philadelphia Mint during the post-war era, one of the final decades of precious metal circulating coinage. John Flanagan's Washington portrait positions LIBERTY in an arc above Washington's head where even minor hub misalignment can produce detectable spread. Light spread varieties like DDO-009 typically manifest as slight thickening or shadowing of letter strokes rather than dramatic separation, making them challenging to attribute in the field. The 1956 date produced at least ten cataloged DDO varieties, each representing a unique working die that received a flawed hub impression. Collectors pursuing the full set of 1956 DDO varieties will find that careful comparison of LIBERTY letter shapes under magnification is essential for distinguishing DDO-009 from its closely numbered counterparts.

External References