2015 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 2015-P 25¢ DE WDDR-002, this Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Quarter presents a doubled die reverse visible as an extra blade of grass on the right underside of the upper grass strip positioned between the great egret and the great blue heron — two wading bird species that are central to the reverse design's depiction of the Delaware refuge's wetland ecosystem. The doubling's location on a natural organic element rather than architectural or inscription features creates a distinctive diagnostic that requires familiarity with the specific reverse design to locate and verify. Obverse die markers include a small die gouge to the left of the T in LIBERTY, a small die gouge inside the bottom of the U in QUARTER, and a small die gouge at the rim above the O in OF. The reverse carries a die crack running north-northwest to south-southeast down the back of the great blue heron's head and upper neck — a progressive die failure through a fine-detail area of the design. No cross-references to CONECA or other cataloging systems are currently known. The 2015 Bombay Hook Quarter was struck at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program, in copper-nickel clad composition (8.33% nickel, 91.67% copper) weighing 5.67 grams with a 24.26 mm diameter. The reverse design by Phebe Hemphill depicts a great blue heron standing in the marsh with a great egret in the background, representing the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge along Delaware's coast. The die crack through the heron's head and neck documents structural failure developing through one of the most prominent design elements, providing an additional attribution point beyond the doubled grass blade.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Stephen Young Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 2015-P 25¢ DE WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References