1972-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-002

Description

Second in the VarietyVista doubled die obverse catalog for the 1972-S proof Roosevelt Dime, this variety shows a medium spread on the date, designer's initials JS (John Sinnock), and TRUST from the IN GOD WE TRUST motto. Cataloged under UVC-0569 and DMR-003, the die progressed through Stage A with both obverse and reverse in early die state, Stage B at mid-die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The 1972-S proof dime was struck at the San Francisco Mint for inclusion in annual proof sets, where proof striking techniques — multiple impressions on polished planchets using polished dies — create the mirror-like fields and frosted design elements that make doubled die features more readily apparent than on business strikes. Medium spread affecting three distinct obverse elements (date, initials, and motto) indicates a hub misalignment significant enough to produce visible doubling across widely separated areas of the die. John Sinnock designed the Roosevelt Dime in 1946, and his initials JS appear at the truncation of Roosevelt's neck on the obverse. The designer's initials, being small and precisely engraved, are particularly sensitive to even modest hub misalignment, making them a natural focal point for doubled die diagnosis on Roosevelt Dime obverses.

Die Markers

• UVC-0569
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References