1968-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Second in the reverse doubled die census for the 1968-S Roosevelt dime clad proof, DDR-002 presents light spread on ONE, UNITED STATES, and the left branches and flame of John R. Sinnock's torch-and-branches reverse design. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-520 and DMR-011, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C where both reverse and obverse surfaces have progressed to late die state. The LDS confirmation for Stage C establishes that specimens with advanced die wear exist for this variety, providing collectors with evidence of the die's extended production life. San Francisco resumed proof coin production in 1968 after the three-year hiatus (1965-1967) during the nationwide coin shortage, and the 1968-S proof set represented the first proof coinage struck at San Francisco under the modern S mintmark convention. The reverse is identified as RDV-001, described as the "weak flame" variant — a reverse design variant where the torch flame at the center of the reverse appears less boldly rendered than on other Roosevelt dime reverse hubs, potentially indicating a well-worn master hub or a specific hub generation with reduced flame detail. This RDV classification provides an additional identification layer beyond the DDR attribution itself. Light spread across ONE, UNITED STATES, and the left-side botanical and flame elements indicates a hub misalignment that affected the left half of the reverse more prominently than the right, suggesting an angular or pivoting displacement rather than a uniform lateral shift. Proof die surfaces amplify the visibility of even light doubling against their polished backgrounds, making DDR-002 potentially more detectable on proof specimens than equivalent light-spread varieties on business strikes. Collectors should examine the torch flame area and the left olive branch under 15x magnification for secondary impressions displaced from the primary design.

Die Markers

• UVC-520
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References