1959 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista under UVC-322 with die markers reference DMR-009, DDR-004 for the 1959 Roosevelt silver dime presents a medium spread producing extra thickness on the reverse inscriptions OF AMERICA and ONE DIME. The doubled image on these letters manifests as notching along the serifs and thickened vertical strokes, best observed under 10x magnification where the secondary hubbing impression separates from the primary strike. Three die stages have been documented for this die pair, each representing a different point in the die's working life. Stage A is cataloged at early die state but remains unconfirmed, meaning no examples with the freshest die characteristics have been positively submitted. Stage B at mid die state is also unconfirmed. Stage C places the reverse in late die state, identified by a light die crack across the forehead on the obverse — a progressive failure line that developed as the die fatigued under repeated striking pressure. The 1959 Philadelphia Roosevelt dime had a business-strike mintage of 85,780,000 and was produced using the 90% silver composition that would end the following year with the passage of the Coinage Act of 1965. John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt obverse and torch-olive-oak reverse design provided the fine detail — particularly in the torch flame and leaf clusters — where doubled die impressions become visible. Collectors pursuing DDR-004 should focus on the OF AMERICA zone first, then cross-check die stage markers to determine which impression from this die's lifespan they hold.

Die Markers

• UVC-322
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Reverse is LDS
• Light die crack on forehead – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References