1963 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Struck as a proof at the Philadelphia Mint, the 1963 WDDR-004 Washington Quarter exhibits Class II hub doubling — a spread directed toward the center of the design — visible on the lower serifs of QUARTER DOLLAR, the lower branch ends, and the lower leaves of the reverse wreath. Class II doubling occurs when the working hub is tilted during one of its impressions into the working die, producing a distortion that fans inward rather than in a uniform direction. The Wexler Team assigned this variety the designation 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-004. Obverse die markers include a short die gouge to the left of the lower bust, while the reverse carries three small die gouges on the eagle's upper left wing — diagnostics that distinguish this die pair from other 1963 proof doubled die reverses. As the penultimate year of 90% silver Washington Quarters before the Coinage Act of 1965 ended silver in circulation coinage, 1963 proof quarters hold particular appeal for collectors who value the combination of precious metal content and die variety. Proof striking on polished planchets with polished dies often makes doubled die features more visible against the mirror-like fields.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References