2003 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

As the first documented doubled die obverse for the 2003 Alabama State Quarter from Philadelphia, WDDO-001 holds the primary position in the Wexler catalog under the reference 2003-P 25 cents AL WDDO-001. No parallel cross-references have been established in CONECA, Cherrypickers, or other attribution systems. Alabama, the 22nd state admitted to the Union in 1819, was honored in the State Quarter program with a reverse design by Norman E. Nemeth featuring Helen Keller seated in a chair with her name in English and Braille, flanked by magnolia branches and the banner "Spirit of Courage." The obverse where the doubling occurs carries the standard John Flanagan Washington portrait with surrounding inscriptions. Without documented die markers on either face, collectors must identify WDDO-001 by its specific doubling pattern — matching the direction and magnitude of hub displacement against reference photographs in the Wexler files. The 2003 Alabama quarter was produced in significant quantities at Philadelphia in copper-nickel clad composition, and the moderate mintage generated enough working dies to create a statistical basis for hub misalignment events during die manufacture. Cherrypicking this variety from circulation or dealer stock requires systematic examination of the obverse inscriptions and portrait details under 7x or greater magnification, comparing any detected spread against known diagnostic photographs for confirmation.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2003-P 25¢ AL WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References