1965 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA 2-R-I, the 1965 Washington Quarter WDDR-002 exhibits a Class I counterclockwise rotational spread visible on "USA," "QUARTER DOLLAR," "E PLURIBUS UNUM," and the lower leaves of the heraldic eagle's olive branch. Class I doubled dies — produced by hub rotation between impressions — are among the most dramatic and collectible varieties because the doubling radiates outward from a central pivot point, creating progressively wider separation toward the coin's periphery. This mechanism occurs during die production when the working hub rotates slightly between the multiple impressions needed to fully sink the design into the working die. The obverse die carries a diagnostic die scratch running from SSW to NNE to the left of the upper digit 5, providing a reliable attribution marker independent of the doubling itself. The 1965 quarter holds special significance as the first year of the copper-nickel clad composition, replacing the 90% silver alloy that had been standard since 1932. The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from dimes and quarters in response to rising bullion prices and widespread hoarding, and the transition to clad planchets required entirely new die preparation procedures. Cataloged as Wexler Variety ID 1965 25-cent WDDR-002, this doubled die reverse emerged during one of the most consequential production transitions in modern American coinage history. No significant reverse die markers have been noted, making the obverse die scratch the primary diagnostic tool alongside the doubling pattern itself.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ryan Magers Cross References: CONECA: 2-R-I
• CONECA: 2-R-I; Wexler Variety ID: 1965 25¢ WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References