2003 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Submitted by James Cassin and documented by the Wexler Team, this first doubled die reverse for the 2003 Alabama State Quarter concentrates its doubling on an unexpected location — the underside of Washington's earlobe on the obverse-facing reverse design elements. The Alabama State Quarter, released as part of the 50 State Quarters program, featured Helen Keller seated in a chair with the state motto and name surrounding her — but the doubling on this WDDR-001 appears in the shared obverse design area visible from the reverse perspective. Die markers include a die gouge above the I in IN on the obverse, a strong die gouge through the bottom of the RT in QUARTER, and a die gouge inside the first U in UNUM on the reverse, providing multiple attribution points. The Wexler designation is 2003-P 25-cent AL WDDR-001, with no other cross-references currently known. The 50 State Quarters program, running from 1999 through 2008, issued five unique reverse designs annually in the order each state ratified the Constitution or was admitted to the Union. Alabama, the twenty-second state, appeared in the 2003 release alongside Illinois, Maine, Missouri, and Arkansas. Each State Quarter reverse offered entirely new design elements for doubled die researchers to examine, and WDDR-001 as the first documented doubled die reverse for Alabama establishes the baseline entry in what could potentially become a longer catalog as more specimens from this date are examined by die variety specialists.

Die Markers

• Obverse: None significant. Reverse: None significant.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Whaden Curtis
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2003-P 25¢ AL WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References