1956 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Struck as a proof at the Philadelphia Mint, the 1956 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006 Washington Quarter exhibits extra thickness spread towards the center on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, the designer's initials, the bottom of the ribbon, and LIBERTY. This combination of Class II and Class VI doubling is cross-referenced as CONECA 5-O-II+VI, indicating both distorted hub doubling and distorted die doubling acted together during the hubbing process. On the obverse, die scratches run northwest-southeast on the top of the forehead, and two die scratches run north-northwest to south-southeast to the right of the back of the eye. No significant reverse die markers were noted. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1956 25' Pr WDDO-006, this proof doubled die carries the mirror-like fields and frosted devices characteristic of mid-century San Francisco proof production. Doubled dies on proof coins are particularly desirable because the superior strike quality and reflective surfaces make the doubling easier to observe, and the limited proof mintages ensure that the surviving population of any given variety remains inherently small.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: CONECA: 5-O-II+VI
• CONECA: 5-O-II+VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1956 25¢ Pr WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References