1955 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

While the 1955 is primarily famous for the dramatic Lincoln cent doubled die, the Washington quarter series produced its own notable doubled die that year. WDDO-002 for the 1955 proof Washington quarter exhibits strong extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the designer's initials (JF for John Flanagan) — a comprehensive doubling affecting three distinct areas of the obverse that confirms a substantial hub misalignment during die manufacture. The Wexler Team recorded specific obverse die markers: die scratches running southwest-to-northeast on the upper forehead, and additional die scratches running north-to-south in the hair at the top of Washington's head, providing secondary diagnostics independent of the doubling itself. No significant reverse die markers were noted. Proof Washington quarters in 1955 were struck at Philadelphia with a mintage of approximately 378,200 proof sets — a modest figure by later standards that limits the population of any proof-only variety. The strong extra thickness designation indicates the doubling is clearly detectable under moderate magnification, with letter strokes and date digits appearing measurably thicker than on normally struck specimens. The proof format amplifies the visibility of the doubling, as mirror fields and frosted devices provide high-contrast surfaces where thickened inscriptions stand out against the reflective background. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1955 25¢ Pr WDDO-002, this variety represents the second documented obverse doubled die for the proof issue. Collectors should locate the forehead die scratches first to confirm the correct die, then examine IGWT, the date, and the JF initials under 10-15x magnification, comparing the letter stroke widths against confirmed normal 1955 proof quarters to verify the characteristic extra thickness that defines this variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1955 25¢ Pr WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References