1892 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1892 25¢ WDDR-002 and cross-referenced as Flynn DDR-002, this inaugural-year Barber Quarter displays Class II spread towards the center on USA, QUARTER DOLLAR, the dots, and all stars — with the strongest spread concentrated between the 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions on the reverse. Submitted by Charlie Nowack through Dave Wilson, this variety documents hub doubling from the very first year of Charles Barber's quarter design, which debuted in 1892 and continued through 1916. Obverse die markers include a die chip from the right center of the E of WE and a die gouge from the upper right R of TRUST, while the reverse shows a die chip forming in the upper second S of STATES and a die gouge in the upper A of QUARTER. The convergent center-directed spread creates doubling where secondary images appear on the inner side of each design element, and the concentration of strongest doubling in the 6-to-9 o’clock sector indicates the hub displacement vector was oriented to produce maximum separation in that quadrant of the die face. The 1892 Barber Quarter was designed by Charles E. Barber, Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, and struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver composition weighing 6.25 grams with a 24.26 mm diameter. The Flynn DDR-002 cross-reference documents independent recognition of this variety in John Wexler and Kevin Flynn's comprehensive doubled die reference works. As an 1892 issue — the inaugural year of the Barber design — this variety holds particular historical significance for collectors who specialize in first-year-of-issue varieties and for those building comprehensive Barber Quarter attributed sets.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Charlie Nowack through Dave Wilson Cross References: Flynn: DDR-002
• Flynn: DDR-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1892 25¢ WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References