1961 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Proof production at Philadelphia yielded WDDO-006, a clockwise rotational spread affecting IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the bottom of the ribbon on John Flanagan's Washington quarter obverse. The CW spread from a pivot at about 12:00 describes a rotational hub misalignment centered at the top of the die, causing design elements in the lower portion of the obverse — where IGWT, the date, and the ribbon terminal reside — to sweep through the greatest angular displacement. The 1961 proof quarter was struck in 90% silver composition, the final era before the Coinage Act of 1965 transitioned quarters to copper-nickel clad. Proof set production for 1961 reached approximately 3.03 million sets. The Wexler Team cataloged this as Wexler Variety ID: 1961 25c Pr WDDO-006, noting no significant die markers on either surface. The absence of secondary die markers places the full diagnostic weight on the doubling pattern itself: collectors should examine the IGWT motto letters for clockwise displacement relative to their intended positions, then confirm the same rotational direction on the date and ribbon. The ribbon at the base of Liberty's queue (ponytail) provides a particularly useful diagnostic because its curved form displays rotational spread differently than straight letter strokes — the inner and outer edges of the ribbon show differential displacement that traces the arc of the hub rotation. Proof surfaces can both aid detection through their mirror-like reflectivity and complicate it through optical effects that mimic doubling under certain angles.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Richard Golden Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1961 25¢ Pr WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References