2004 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-016

Description

Sixteen doubled die reverses on the 2004 Philadelphia Wisconsin State Quarter represent a catalog density rivaling many complete coin series, and WDDR-016 continues the steady documentation of hub doubling events on this intensely studied issue. Cross-referenced under Wexler Variety ID 2004-P 25-cent WI WDDR-016 with no other known attributions, the Wexler Team cataloged this variety as the variety-hunting effort on Wisconsin quarters showed no signs of diminishing. The Extra Leaf phenomenon created a self-reinforcing cycle: initial media coverage attracted more searchers, who found more varieties, which generated more publicity and attracted still more searchers. By WDDR-016, the catalog had grown well beyond the initial cluster of easily visible varieties into territory requiring more careful magnified examination to identify and distinguish individual die pairs. Philadelphia's 226,400,000 Wisconsin quarter production of 2004 consumed die pairs at the standard rate, with each pair independently manufactured through the hubbing process. The distinction between the famous Extra Leaf varieties (which may involve different mechanisms than standard hub doubling) and the conventional DDR/WDDR varieties listed under sequential numbers is important for collectors: WDDR-016 represents standard hub misalignment during die manufacture, a well-understood mechanical process distinct from whatever created the controversial Extra Leaf features that first drew attention to Wisconsin quarter dies.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Tanaka Davis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2004-P 25¢ WI WDDR-016
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References