2015 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-015

Description

Submitted by George W. Powell, Jr. and cataloged by the Wexler Team as 2015-P 25-cent NY WDDR-015, this America the Beautiful Quarter depicting Saratoga National Historical Park in New York exhibits doubling visible inside the lower right opening in the handle of General Burgoyne's sword — a precisely located diagnostic feature within the detailed military surrender scene on the reverse. Die markers on the obverse include feeder finger damage between the Y in LIBERTY and the neck, and a die gouge centered in the D of UNITED. Reverse markers include NNW/SSE die scratches through the S in SURRENDER, two parallel NNW/SSE die scratches above the handle of the sword, and a die gouge in the lower opening of the last E in SURRENDER. The feeder finger damage on the obverse — caused by the mechanical feed mechanism that delivers planchets into the striking chamber — documents a production line anomaly distinct from the die-manufacturing hub doubling on the reverse. No external cross-references beyond the Wexler listing are currently known. The Saratoga reverse design commemorates the 1777 British surrender that became a turning point in the American Revolution, depicting General Burgoyne's surrender to General Gates with detailed figures, weaponry, and military regalia that provide numerous attribution points for die variety cataloging. The ATB Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in copper-nickel clad composition (8.33% nickel, 91.67% copper) weighing 5.67 grams with a diameter of 24.26 mm. Powell's discovery and documentation of this variety contributes to the growing catalog of ATB quarter doubled dies, where the detailed historical scenes across 56 different reverse designs generated an unusually rich variety population during the series' 2010-2021 production run.

Attribution History

• Discovered by George W. Powell, Jr. Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2015-P 25¢ NY WDDR-015
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References