1963 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-010

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-010, this proof Washington Silver Quarter presents an extremely close spread toward the center on QUARTER DOLLAR, AMERICA, the branches, and slightly on the tail feathers — a convergent doubling pattern where the secondary hub impression shifted inward, producing extra thickness on the interior edges of the affected design elements. The extremely close nature of the spread means the doubled elements appear as thickened or slightly blurred features rather than clearly separated secondary images, requiring careful examination under magnification to distinguish from normal die wear or strike characteristics. Obverse die markers include die scratches on the rim at the upper and lower obverse extremities, die damage at the rim below the 19 in the date, and a die gouge between the D in GOD and the W in WE. The reverse shows die scratches on the rim around the entire circumference, weak die dents between the F in OF and the first A in AMERICA, and die pitting on the tail feathers — the pitting indicating surface deterioration of the die steel in the high-stress tail feather area. No cross-references to other cataloging systems are currently known. As a proof issue, this coin was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on polished planchets using polished dies, with the reflective fields providing enhanced contrast for detecting the close-spread doubling. The 1963 Washington Quarter proof was composed of 90% silver at 6.25 grams with a 24.26 mm diameter. John Flanagan's design depicts Washington on the obverse and the heraldic eagle surrounded by laurel and olive branches on the reverse. The rim-encircling die scratches on the reverse suggest this die may have undergone maintenance or experienced collar-related contact that marked the peripheral areas of the die face.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1963 25¢ Pr WDDR-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References