2007 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 2007-P 25-cent MT WDDO-002, this Montana State Quarter exhibits doubling visible on the underside of Washington's earlobe — a subtle but precisely located diagnostic on one of the obverse portrait's anatomical features. Die markers on the obverse include numerous light die scratches running mostly north to south through Washington's cheek, the upper neck, and the upper queue (the tied hair at the back of the head). A die clash mark runs north to south through the hair southeast of the ear, with additional die clash marks visible in the hair above the ear — indicating this obverse die experienced at least one clash event where the reverse die's design elements transferred onto the hair area. Reverse markers include two parallel die scratches running NNE from the top right of the 7 in 2007, and a short die scratch running from southwest to northeast to the right of the top of the 7 in 2007. The die clash evidence in the hair area is particularly significant because it documents a production event independent of the hub doubling itself, confirming this obverse die continued in service after the clash event without being withdrawn or abraded to remove the transferred design. No external cross-references beyond the Wexler listing are currently known. The State Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 2007, composed of copper-nickel clad weighing 5.67 grams with a diameter of 24.26 mm. The Montana reverse was designed by Don Everhart and depicts a bison skull above a landscape with the inscription "Big Sky Country." The earlobe doubling requires careful examination under magnification because the underside of the earlobe is a small and often overlooked area of the portrait.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Alexander Bradley Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2007-P 25¢ MT WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References