1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Fifth in the Wexler-cataloged obverse doubled die census for the 1945 Washington silver quarter, WDDO-005 displays a close clockwise spread from a pivot at approximately the three o'clock position, manifesting on the letters IGWT (IN GOD WE TRUST). This Class V (Pivoted Hub Doubling) mechanism indicates the secondary hub impression rotated clockwise around a fixed point at three o'clock — design elements near the pivot show minimal displacement while those farthest from the pivot exhibit the greatest spread, creating a gradient of doubling intensity across the obverse. John Flanagan's Washington quarter obverse carries the IGWT motto along the upper right periphery, positioned away from the three o'clock pivot point and therefore showing detectable spread. The obverse die marker is a die scratch running south-southwest to north-northeast below the underside of Washington's nose, while the reverse carries feeder finger scrapes through the lower first S in STATES — providing two independent diagnostics for die confirmation. Philadelphia struck approximately 12.34 million quarters in 1945 using 90% silver planchets, a composition that continued through 1964 before the transition to copper-nickel clad. The Wexler Variety ID: 1945 25¢ WDDO-005 serves as the authoritative catalog reference, with no additional cross-references currently documented. Feeder finger scrapes — linear impressions created by the mechanism that feeds planchets into the striking chamber — are a distinctive die state marker unique to dies that experienced contact with the feeder mechanism. Collectors should first locate the die scratch below Washington's nose to confirm the correct die, then examine IGWT under 15-20x magnification for the clockwise rotational spread.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1945 25¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References