1937-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as WDDO-003, this 1937-S Washington Quarter displays a close clockwise spread on the date, the bottom of the ribbon, the TY in LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST — a rotation-based doubling pattern that affected multiple design elements across the obverse. Clockwise hub doubling occurs when the working hub rotates slightly during one of the hubbing impressions, shifting all design elements in a consistent rotational direction. Die markers help authenticate this specific die: north-south die scratches are visible on the upper nose of Washington's portrait, while the reverse carries a small die gouge to the left of the lower O in OF. The 1937-S is a low-mintage Washington Quarter from the San Francisco Mint during the series' early years — John Flanagan's design had been introduced only five years earlier in 1932 — and doubled die varieties from pre-war Washington Quarters are scarce compared to the prolific DDO production on later dates. No other cross-references are currently known for this variety beyond its Wexler designation, which may reflect the variety's relatively subtle nature or the limited number of surviving examples from this date's modest mintage.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1937-S 25¢ WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References