Expert: Dan Moore - 1/9/2012

Question
Dear Sir, I found a 1981 Quarter it was given to me as Change back at Murphy's Gas Station.While wearing Dark sun Glass in sunglight I saw the Double type Face shinning and stopped to look at it for minutes in the Parking lot.I was like...Oh! my GOD!

When I came home I checked under the 3X Magnifying Glass.

1.Clear Doubling (BIG MOTTO,Complete)unlike the one Selling on Ebay (starting Bid $9.00)at this moment,that one is missing Part of the BIG MOTTO.
My Quarter is say IN GOD WE TRUST (FULL BIG MOTTO)!!What is BIG MOTTO? is this a way of saying DDO?

2.I see some Doubling on the DATE 1981  (9) is Curling.
3.Liberty showing some doubling under 3X, L is showing,B.

4.One the Back I can see Heavy Heavy Letters.But...one thing Stood out the Last (A) in AMERICA is FILLED no Opening in the center of the Letter.E-Plubribus..is DULLISH and Thick,can see some Doubling in the U's of it.
5.Mint Mark  D over Repunched D! Wow! I saw that the last after taking turns in examining the coin.There is Original D eges sticking out with a DOUBLE D Punched on Top of it.
5.Grade is GOOD or G-4 maybe a bit higher.

       I did some Homework before sending in this Message for Help/Advise.I checked everysite for another ONE.List of Sites below.

1.PGCS
2.VarietyVista (compared pic of other DDO Quarters,nice site)
3.Ken Potters
4.Ebay.
5.TeleTrade
6.NGC
7.CONECA
         The Results for 1981 D,are Zero.These sites are showing no listing of any 1981 Big Motto Quarters.A Whole lot of 50's and Old ones yes.Am I, the first to find this? I saw many many Proofs selling,and just nice one's selling online.There is only ONE report on CONECA for a 1981 Quarter and its not about the MOTTO being big or similar.

Appreiate your Advise and Help in this find.God Bless.

Beck,
Kissimmee FL

PS:After checking on VarietyVista for Pic,I know it takes a great amount of Magnification to Solve the Riddle on these Beautys!Amen!

Answer
Hi Beck,

I don't know what BIG MOTTO is supposed to mean, but it's not any recognized term for DDO.

The coin in the eBay listing is not a doubled die.  It's just a coin that was sztruck from worn down dies.  That's why the D mintmark is filled, and also why the letters in the motto appear thick like that.

With the filled A and the "heavy" letters, I suspect your coin is caused by the same thing -- worn out dies.  If you have a D over D mintmark, that may be worth a couple dollars, but you need to get it verified first-hand.

Have you got a copy of The RPM Book?  It lists most all of the known repunched mintmarks and over mintmarks (like D over S).  It was printed almost 30 years ago, so the pricing may be a bit dated, but it will give an idea of the rarities and collector interes in each variety.  It's out of print now, so it's a bit expensive, but you can get a copy from Amazon here :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006YKN98/theworkimansrare

I hope this helps,

Dan