2008 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 2008-P 25¢ AZ WDDO-002, this Arizona State Quarter displays doubling on the underside of Washington\'s earlobe — a precisely located feature on the obverse portrait that requires focused examination of the ear\'s lower contour. The obverse die markers provide a rich set of identification features: a small die gouge dot between the upper I and N in IN, a small die gouge dot between the upper A and R of DOLLAR, a small die gouge dot inside the upper O of DOLLAR, and a die crack running across the base of the bust. The reverse markers include a short die scratch extending north from the upper left N of ARIZONA and a small die gouge dot between the N and A of ARIZONA. The cross-reference note mentions "Philadelphia Reverse Varieties," indicating this variety is specifically associated with Philadelphia Mint production of the Arizona quarter design. The Arizona State Quarter, released in 2008 as part of the 50 State Quarters Program, features a reverse depicting the Grand Canyon with a saguaro cactus in the foreground — Arizona\'s most iconic natural landscapes. The State Quarter was struck in copper-nickel clad composition weighing 5.67 grams at 24.3 mm diameter at the Philadelphia Mint. The 2008 date represented the final year of the original state quarters program before it transitioned to the DC and Territories issue in 2009. The concentration of die gouge dots across multiple obverse inscription elements — IN, DOLLAR (two locations) — plus the bust crack creates a comprehensive marker set that enables confident die identification even before the earlobe doubling is confirmed under magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kenneth Russell Cross References: None known Philadelphia Reverse Varieties
• None known Philadelphia Reverse Varieties; Wexler Variety ID: 2008-P 25¢ AZ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References