1948-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

A very close spread towards the center on the 48 in the date defines this sole documented doubled die obverse for the 1948-D Washington Quarter. Attributed by the Wexler Team with the designation 1948-D 25c WDDO-001, no other cross-references are currently known. The obverse die carries several short southwest-to-northeast die scratches in the field to the right of the upper queue (the ponytail of Washington's hair), along with parallel die scratches connecting the L and I in LIBERTY — both serving as secondary attribution markers. The reverse shows die pitting to the left of the bottom of the first T in STATES, indicating the die was developing surface deterioration. Struck at the Denver Mint in 90% silver composition, the 1948-D quarter belongs to the post-war boom era when John Flanagan's Washington portrait design was in its sixteenth year of production. The "close spread towards center" description indicates the doubling direction converges inward, a less common orientation than the outward spreads typically associated with hub rotation. As the only DDO cataloged for the 1948-D date, this variety stands as the definitive obverse hub doubling variety for that Denver Mint issue.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1948-D 25¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References