1963 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-012

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team, this 1963 Washington Quarter doubled die obverse shows a clockwise spread on the 6 in the date — a rotational component to the doubling that indicates the hub shifted along a curved path during the secondary impression rather than a simple linear displacement. Clockwise spreads are characteristic of Class III (design hub doubling with a pivot point) or Class V (pivot hub doubling) mechanisms, where the hub rotated slightly during one of the hubbing impressions. Die markers provide essential attribution points: on the obverse, die scratches run southwest to northeast below the I in LIBERTY, with a die gouge visible southwest of the Y in LIBERTY and numerous additional die scratches scattered throughout the obverse field. On the reverse, a die gouge shaped like a dot can be found west of the eagle's beak. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known, making the Wexler designation the primary catalog entry. The 1963 Washington Quarter was the final year of the 90% silver composition, struck before the Coinage Act of 1965 transitioned quarters to copper-nickel clad. Philadelphia Mint production of 1963 quarters was massive at 74,316,000 pieces, reflecting the growing coin shortage that Congress would address through the composition change. John Flanagan's Washington portrait, in use since 1932, had been refined through three decades of die production, and the numerous die scratches noted across this obverse suggest a die that was in active production long enough to accumulate surface wear. Variety collectors value WDDO-012 as one of many doubled die obverses documented for the prolific 1963 date.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ WDDO-012
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References