1956 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Proof coins rarely escape the hubbing errors that create doubled dies, and DDR-003 on the 1956 proof Washington quarter illustrates this clearly. Light spread appears on both stems of the olive and laurel branches, the tail feathers, the R of AMERICA, and the outside edge of the eagle's left wing — a broad distribution across John Flanagan's reverse. The light intensity produces subtle thickening rather than dramatic separation, so at least 7x magnification is recommended when examining the stems, tail feathers, and lettering. As a proof struck on polished planchets with polished dies at the Philadelphia Mint, the mirror-like fields actually aid detection by providing contrast against displaced design elements. The 1956 proof quarter was struck in 90% silver at 6.25 grams as part of the annual proof set program during the final decade of silver coinage. The stem ends and R of AMERICA serve as primary pickup points for attribution.

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