1961 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die marker codes UVC-362 and DMR-003, DDO-001 on the 1961 Roosevelt Silver Dime displays a medium-strength spread affecting LIBER of LIBERTY, the full motto IN GOD WE TRUST, John R. Sinnock's designer initials, and the date — top-to-bottom displacement consistent with a vertical shift between hub impressions during the die-sinking process. The medium spread classification indicates the doubling is visible under moderate magnification (5x to 7x) without requiring the extreme lighting angles needed for light-class varieties, placing this among the more collector-accessible doubled dies in the Roosevelt Silver Dime series. Three documented die stages trace the progressive deterioration of this die pair through its production run. Stage A is classified as Early Die State, though it remains unconfirmed — suggesting that few if any specimens from the earliest period of this die's service have been positively identified and examined. Stage B places both the obverse and reverse at Mid Die State, indicating moderate wear markers and potentially minor die cracks beginning to form. Stage C advances both dies to Late Die State, where accumulated stress fractures and surface degradation produce additional die cracks and flow lines that further distinguish late-struck specimens. As a 1961 Philadelphia issue, this dime was struck in the traditional 90% silver / 10% copper composition at 2.50 grams — the penultimate composition used for circulating Roosevelt Dimes before the Coinage Act of 1965 replaced silver with the copper-nickel clad sandwich. The DDO-001 designation as the primary doubled die obverse for this date suggests it carries the strongest or most significant doubling among all obverse hub-doubling varieties cataloged for 1961 Roosevelt Dimes.

Die Markers

• UVC-362
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Delma K. Romines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References