2005 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 2005-P 25¢ SF OR WDDR-004, this doubled die reverse variety appears on a 2005-P Oregon State Quarter struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Oregon quarter features Donna Weaver's design depicting Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States, with Wizard Island rising from its surface, surrounded by the caldera rim and conifer trees. Struck in the copper-nickel clad composition weighing 5.67 grams with a 24.3 mm diameter and a reeded edge, this coin was part of the immensely popular 50 State Quarters program. The doubling on WDDR-004 shows above the three lowest branches on the left side of the short tree in the design, a specific location within the landscape elements that requires careful examination to detect. No obverse die markers have been noted. Reverse die markers are detailed: heavy die gouges appear northwest of the E in E PLURIBUS UNUM, die pitting can be found above some of the small trees on the lower shoreline, and a strong die gouge sits above the right side of the R in CRATER. Cross-referenced as CONECA 7-R-VIII, this variety shares the Class VIII (tilted hub) classification with other Oregon quarter DDR varieties, indicating a consistent hubbing issue with the hub tilt mechanism during die production for this design. The CONECA designation as the seventh Class VIII reverse variety for this date confirms that the tilted hub mechanism was particularly prevalent among Oregon quarter dies. The Oregon State Quarter has proven to be one of the more productive State Quarter dates for doubled die variety discovery, likely due to the complexity of the Crater Lake landscape design which provides numerous fine details where even slight hub tilt displacement creates detectable anomalies. The combination of heavy die gouges and pitting in the reverse markers suggests this die was in active service for a significant portion of its working life before being retired.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kevin Zaletel Cross References: CONECA: 7-R-VIII
• CONECA: 7-R-VIII; Wexler Variety ID: 2005-P 25¢ SF OR WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References