2008 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Anchoring the doubled die obverse catalog for the 2008-P State Quarter, DDO-001 presents light spread concentrated on George Washington's lower earlobe — a tightly localized diagnostic that makes this variety both distinctive and challenging to detect without magnification. Die markers UVC-1711 and DMR-003 fingerprint this specific working die across three documented die stages. In Stage A (early die state, EMDS), very light die scratches running north-south appear on the obverse while the reverse also shows early die state characteristics. Stage B is documented as mid-die state (MDS), though this remains unconfirmed. By Stage C, the die had progressed to late die state (LDS), also unconfirmed, where accumulated die fatigue and flow lines would have softened the original die markers. The lower earlobe on John Flanagan's Washington portrait provides an unusually precise attribution checkpoint — the curved detail of the ear anatomy translates hub displacement into a cleanly visible doubled contour that can be compared against published reference images with high confidence. As DDO-001, this variety holds the primary position in the doubled die obverse catalog for its specific date-mint combination within the State Quarters 1999-2008 series, which produced a different reverse design for each state issued in the order of ratification or admission. Struck in copper-nickel clad composition at 5.67 grams, the Washington obverse design remained constant across all fifty State Quarter reverses. Examination at 10x magnification focused on the lower curve of the earlobe provides the most efficient attribution pathway.

Die Markers

• UVC-1711
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• Very light die scratches North-South on Obverse – EMDS
• Reverse is EMDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Neal Burnett
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References