1972-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Medium extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST and the date distinguishes DDO-002 on the 1972-S Washington clad proof quarter from its lighter-class companion DDO-001. The step up from light to medium classification indicates a more pronounced hub misalignment during die manufacture, producing noticeably bolder design elements compared to standard proof strikes. San Francisco's 1972 proof set production totaled approximately 3.26 million sets, and this clad quarter was included in each set. Reported by Timothy Wissert, DDO-002 represents the second obverse doubled die documented for this proof-only issue. The medium extra thickness is most readily apparent on the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, where the letters display a perceptibly heavier weight than normal — an effect that can sometimes be mistaken for a particularly well-struck proof rather than a genuine die variety. Careful comparison against a confirmed undoubled 1972-S proof quarter under uniform magnification reveals the consistent added thickness across multiple design elements that characterizes a true hub doubling event rather than mere strike pressure variation.

External References