1997 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1997-P 25c WDDO-001 with no other known cross-references, this doubled die obverse variety was discovered on the 1997 Philadelphia Washington Quarter. As WDDO-001, it holds the primary obverse doubled die catalog position for the 1997-P quarter, indicating it was either the first documented or the most significant doubled die obverse for this date-mint combination. The doubled die obverse classification means a misalignment during the die hubbing process created visible doubling on the obverse design elements of John Flanagan's Washington portrait, which has appeared on the quarter dollar since 1932. The 1997 Washington Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-nickel clad composition — a pure copper core bonded between two outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel — weighing 5.670 grams with a diameter of 24.3 mm. This issue represents one of the final years of the traditional Washington Quarter reverse featuring the heraldic eagle, as the State Quarters program began in 1999 and replaced the eagle reverse with rotating state designs for a full decade. The Washington Clad and Silver Proof Quarters series (1965-1998) encompasses the post-silver era of standard Washington Quarters, with proof versions struck at the San Francisco Mint in both clad and, starting in 1992, silver compositions. Examination of the obverse under 7x to 10x magnification should focus on IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the date as primary diagnostic areas for confirming hub doubling.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1997-P 25¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References