1963 (D) Washington Quarter - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1963-D 25¢ WDDO-001 and cross-referenced as CONECA 4-O-II+V and Cherrypickers FS-25-1963D-101, this Washington Silver Quarter is a significant doubled die obverse with strong spread towards the center on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, the designer's initials JF (John Flanagan), and the lower queue — the tied ribbon at the back of Washington's head. A counterclockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 7 o'clock shows on LIBERTY, meaning letters further from the 7 o'clock position show progressively greater separation of the doubled images, while letters near the pivot point show minimal displacement. The dual-class CONECA designation (II+V) confirms both Distorted Hub and Pivoted Hub mechanisms operated simultaneously during the hubbing event that created this die. Obverse die markers include two parallel die scratches running east-southeast from the 9 to the 6 in the date and a die gouge dot to the left of the lower 6. Reverse markers show a die crack running down the eagle's right wing and a horizontal die scratch inside the lower N of UNITED — providing four independent marker-based identification points beyond the doubling itself. The Cherrypickers FS designation confirms this variety's desirability as a cherrypicking target worth searching for in circulation and coin rolls. Struck at the Denver Mint in 1963 in 90% silver at 6.25 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter, the 1963-D quarter represents the second-to-last year of silver quarter production before the Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from circulating coinage. As WDDO-001, this holds the primary position in the Wexler doubled die obverse catalog for the 1963-D quarter, signifying it as the most important or prominent doubled die known for this date-mint combination.

Cross References

• CONECA: 4-O-II+V, Cherrypickers: FS-25-1963D-101; Wexler Variety ID: 1963-D 25¢ WDDO-001

External References