2001 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Representing a distinct die pair from the WDDO-001 variety also known for this issue, the 2001 Philadelphia North Carolina State Quarter WDDO-003 was attributed by the Wexler Team as a doubled die obverse resulting from hub misalignment during die manufacture. The "First in Flight" reverse design honoring the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk generated widespread collector interest during the State Quarter program's peak years, and variety hunters systematically searched rolls of each new release for die anomalies. WDDO-003 exhibits its own diagnostic doubling characteristics on John Flanagan's Washington portrait and the surrounding obverse legends, requiring careful comparison against WDDO-001 to confirm attribution. The State Quarter program produced five new reverse designs annually from 1999 through 2008, and the sustained public enthusiasm for collecting these coins meant that enormous quantities passed through collectors' hands, increasing the likelihood of variety discovery. Each doubled die obverse represents a unique moment in die production, and the specific spread direction and affected elements distinguish WDDO-003 as an independent variety in the Wexler catalog.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 2001-P 25¢ NC WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References