Within six years, the U.S. Mints at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco produced four doubled dies:
This article not only shares key diagnostics so that you can identify examples from rolls or online offerings. It warns against raw coins on eBay that claim to be these doubled dies and sell lots without any doubling or with machine doubling.
1937 DDO
The 1937 DDO is scarce but still discoverable in rolls and bank bags, usually in lower mint states. Look for doubling you can see with a loupe or naked eye on the motto, “In God We Trust.” You also can check the date with doubling there on the “1” and “9.” You might not see that if the coin is worn.
Retail values are typically less than $300 in fine and very fine condition condition. In extra fine, the price jumps into the $500s. PCGS has holdered about 60 of these.
If buying raw and online, be sure to compare the diagnostics because this quarter also was struck with worn dies leaving slight machine doubling on the date, as in this example, not a 1937 DDO.
1942-D DDO
The doubling is easily seen with or without a loupe in the legend and in the “R” of the motto.
Values for the 1942-D DDO typically are less than $500 in fine and extra fine. In almost uncirculated condition, price rises to $1,000 or higher.
Once more, you will see plenty of misidentified 1942-D quarters on eBay and elsewhere. That’s why it is essential to study the diagnostics and then compare. Here’s an example that lacks doubling in the legend and “R” in the motto:
1943 DDO
The 1943 DDO is the scarcest of the four Washington doubled die quarters. You will need a loupe or even a coin microscope to see the doubling on “In God We Trust” and on the “L” of “Liberty.”
PCGS has only holdered fewer than 60 of these, dramatically increasing value, even in lower grades. In extra fine, the coin retails between $600-$1000. In AU 58, in $5,000 or more.
Again, be careful if you plan to bid on or buy a raw 1943 designated as DDO when it isn’t. Here’s an example for $995. Never spend that money unless the coin was verified and holdered by PCGS, NGC, CAC or ANACS.
1943-S DDO
The 1943-S DDO is easily identified with hub doubling in the legend and especially in the motto, as indicated below. Better still, hundreds have been found in rolls and even in pocket change.
Values are more affordable than other Washington quarter doubled dies selling for about $300 in almost uncirculated and in the high hundreds to a $1,000 in lower mint states.
Once again, be careful bidding on or buying raw coins that purport to be doubled dies, especially worn ones like that below, which lacks key diagnostics.
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