1963 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Bearing the second Wexler reverse doubled die designation for the 1963 Washington quarter proof, WDDR-002 presents a Class II spread toward the center affecting multiple reverse design elements: USA, QUARTER DOLLAR, E PLURIBUS UNUM, the lower branch ends, and the lower leaves. Class II doubling in the Wexler system results from a distorted hub — a hub that has warped or shifted during use, creating a systematic displacement across the entire die surface rather than the isolated pivot or tilt characteristic of other doubling classes. John Flanagan's Washington quarter reverse features a heraldic eagle perched on a bundle of arrows with olive branches extending below, and the breadth of affected elements — spanning the upper inscription, denomination, motto, and botanical details — confirms a comprehensive hub displacement event. The proof designation (Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-002) places this variety within the San Francisco proof coinage, where polished dies and specially treated planchets produce the mirror-finish surfaces prized by collectors. No significant obverse or reverse die markers beyond the doubling itself were documented, meaning attribution relies entirely on identifying the Class II spread pattern across the affected design elements. Philadelphia produced approximately 3.08 million proof sets in 1963, the final year of the silver Washington quarter before the transition to copper-nickel clad composition in 1965 rendered proof quarter production a fundamentally different metallurgical process. The "spread towards the center" directional classification indicates the secondary hub impression displaced design elements inward, compressing the affected inscriptions and leaves toward the coin's center rather than expanding them outward. Collectors should examine the lower reverse under 15-20x magnification, focusing on the branch ends and leaf tips where the inward displacement is most readily apparent against the surrounding field.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References