1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-025

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team on a proof striking of the 1963 Washington Silver Quarter, this twenty-fifth doubled die obverse displays a counterclockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 6 o'clock — visible on LIBERTY — combined with a close spread towards the rim on IN. The pivot-point description places this squarely within Class IV of the Wexler doubling classification system, where the hub rotates around a fixed point during the die impression process, producing doubling that increases in magnitude with distance from the pivot. At the 6 o'clock pivot position, design elements near the top of the coin (like LIBERTY) show the greatest displacement, while those near the bottom remain relatively unaffected. Die markers include a die gouge ESE (east-southeast) of the second T in TRUST on the obverse, and a nearly vertical die gouge on the lower right of the D in DOLLAR on the reverse, providing attribution points independent of the doubling pattern. The full Wexler designation is 1963 25-cent Pr WDDO-025, confirming this as a proof variety — struck at the Philadelphia Mint on polished planchets with polished dies. The 1963 proof Washington Quarter was the penultimate silver proof quarter, with only 1964 remaining before the switch to copper-nickel clad composition. Twenty-five documented doubled die obverses on proof 1963 quarters reflects the thorough examination that proof coins receive from variety specialists, who benefit from the superior surface quality that makes even subtle doubling more detectable.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ Pr WDDO-025
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References