1957 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

A very close spread directed towards the center on the upper left corners of the letters in LIBERTY and the bottom of the ribbon defines this second Wexler-attributed doubled die obverse for the 1957 proof Washington Silver Quarter. The inward-directed spread pattern indicates a hub compression or contraction event during die preparation, where the secondary impression was slightly smaller than the primary, producing displacement that converges toward the center of the die. This is an uncommon spread direction that differs from the more frequently observed outward, rotational, or lateral hub displacements. Specific die markers include a die scratch running in the WNW/ESE direction to the right of Washington's chin on the obverse, with no significant reverse markers. Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1957 25c Pr WDDO-002, this variety exists exclusively on proof coins struck at the Philadelphia Mint, where dies were polished and planchets specially prepared for the controlled multi-strike proof production process. The 1957 proof quarter was struck in 90% silver composition — part of the final decade of silver proof quarter production before the Coinage Act of 1965 mandated the transition to copper-nickel clad. No cross-references to other attribution systems are currently known. Two doubled die obverses documented for the 1957 proof Washington Quarter places this date in the early stages of die variety documentation for silver proof quarters. The very close nature of the spread requires careful examination under magnification, as the secondary impression is nearly superimposed on the primary design — the LIBERTY inscription and ribbon serving as the areas where this subtle displacement is most readily detectable.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1957 25¢ Pr WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References