The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Cherrypicking Rare Coins: 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101
October 1, 2025The Hidden Truth About the 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101 Cherrypick That Few Collectors See
October 1, 2025
I spent the last 18 months testing every cherrypicking tactic I could find—some worked. Some wasted my time. As a numismatist who’s hunted rare U.S. coin varieties for over a decade, I wanted real answers, not theory. The **1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101** became my testing ground: a classic doubled die obverse, repunched mintmark (well, technically not a mintmark—it’s a Philadelphia issue), and a coin that still hides in plain sight, even though it’s cataloged.
I tested five strategies, tracked results, and learned what actually gets results—not what *sounds* good in a YouTube video. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a dealer, or just hunting undervalued coins, here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why.
Strategy 1: Traditional Coin Show Hunting
Let’s be honest: there’s something magical about walking a show floor, loupe in hand, hunting for a needle in a haystack. It’s old-school, yes—but for rarities like the 1937 DDO FS-101, it’s still one of the best ways to score.
How It Works
You hit ANA, FUN, or your local regional show. You don’t rush. You go table by table, inspecting raw quarters under magnification, looking for the telltale doubling on **“IN GOD WE TRUST”** and the date. Dealers are human—they miss things. Fatigue, volume, or lack of variety expertise means the right coin can slip through.
Pros
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- You see the coin — no guessing. You feel the doubling, check the luster, and spot subtle wear patterns under 10x magnification.
- Dealers miss details — they buy bulk inventory and often skim. A second pass? That’s where the good stuff hides.
- You can negotiate — raw coins are often priced by silver or grade, not variety. If you spot the FS-101, you can often buy below market.
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Cons
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- It’s exhausting — hours of walking, squinting, and repeating the same motion. My neck still aches.
- Expensive to access — ANA? $500+ for travel, ticket, and a hotel. Not pocket change.
- Low hit rate — I inspected 200 tables. Found *three* possible 1937 DDOs. One was real. That’s it.
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Testing Results
I found the **FS-101 at a regional show in Ohio**. Second pass, last table. Dealer had it listed as “AU-50, cleaned.” Under my loupe? Clear doubling on “WE TRUST.” No hesitation. I paid $85. Today, CPG for an ungraded FS-101 is over $1,800. Took me about six hours over two days. Success rate? **One in 15 shows**. But that one? Worth every mile.
Strategy 2: Online Marketplace Scanning (eBay, Heritage, GreatCollections)
Want speed? This is it. Thousands of raw quarters, listed every day. But is it smart? That’s the real question.
How It Works
You use advanced filters: “1937 quarter,” “raw,” “doubled,” “no grade.” Then you study high-res photos. I use **Google Lens** and **Microsoft Image Composite Editor** to zoom, rotate, and enhance—sometimes catching doubling the seller missed.
Pros
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- You can hunt from home — review 100+ listings in an hour. No travel, no lines.
- Low cost to start — no ticket, no hotel. Just coffee and Wi-Fi.
- Tech helps — image tools reveal details you’d miss with just the naked eye.
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Cons
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- Photos lie — bad lighting, blur, or low resolution? Doubling vanishes. I’ve bought coins that looked doubled online—turned out to be die deterioration.
- No returns = risk — buy a “doubled” coin, get a common one. Ouch.
- Everyone’s doing it — bots, alerts, and other cherrypickers. The good ones sell fast.
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Testing Results
I screened 120 listings. Bought 12 “suspects.” Only two showed doubling. One was a false positive—die wear, not a true DDO. The other? A minor DDO, not the FS-101. **Zero hits on the specific variety I wanted**. One in 12 for *any* doubling? Not worth the risk for this coin.
Strategy 3: Junk Silver Bins & Estate Auctions
Love the thrill of the hunt? This one’s for you. But be ready—volume doesn’t guarantee value.
How It Works
Buy 90% silver half-dollar bags, estate lots, or coin club auctions. Dump them out. Inspect every quarter. One by one. Under a loupe.
Pros
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- Cheap coins — often face value or a small premium. No risk, high reward (in theory).
- Lots of coins — 1,000+ in a weekend. Practice your eye.
- It’s satisfying — finding *any* rarity in a “junk” bag? That’s the numismatic high.
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Cons
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- Brutal on your eyes and back — 1,000 coins take 8–10 hours. With breaks.
- Rare coins are rare — 1937 quarters are scarce. DDOs? Even scarcer.
- Many are damaged — cleaned, corroded, or worn to oblivion. Not just low-grade—*unusable*.
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Testing Results
Five bags. 1,274 Washington quarters. Found **17 1937s**—all common. One had doubling, but it was a **mirror-reverse die clash**, not a true DDO. Zero FS-101s. But I did pull two **1946 Walking Liberty DDRs**—worth $400+ each. So the method works… just not for *this* specific coin.
Strategy 4: Collection Re-Examination & “Back-End” Hunting
Here’s the one no one talks about: **your own coins**. The ones you bought years ago. The ones you forgot about.
How It Works
Pull out your Dansco album. Grab a 10x–20x loupe. Use the *Cherrypickers’ Guide* and forums to recheck every 1937 quarter. Look for doubling, repunched details, die cracks. You’re not buying—you’re *re-discovering*.
Pros
- Free — you already own the coins. No cost. Just time.
- Instant payoff — find a variety? Value jumps overnight.
- Sharpens your eye — you learn what to look for, so you spot it faster in the wild.
Cons
- Only works if you have old coins — new collectors? This won’t help.
- Time to re-inspect — 500 coins? Four hours. But it’s time well spent.
Testing Results
No FS-101. But I found a **1939-S DDO** in an album I’d had for eight years. It was slabbed as a common coin. Re-graded, it’s worth $300 more. This method? **A gold mine for missed opportunities**. Especially if you’ve collected for 20+ years.
Strategy 5: Social Media & Dealer Outreach
Instagram, Reddit, Facebook groups—they’re not just for memes. They’re a pipeline to fresh inventory.
How It Works
Follow dealers who post raw coins. Slide into DMs. Ask for high-res photos. Offer to check their coins for varieties. Build trust. Buy before grading.
Pros
- First dibs — dealers post *before* grading. You see it first.
- Price power — ungraded coins sell for less. You can lock in deals.
- Long-term gains — build a network, and you get early access to new finds.
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Cons
- Scams exist — stock photos, misgraded coins, or fakes. Trust is everything.
- Slow start — takes months to earn credibility. But it pays off.
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Testing Results
No 1937 DDO. But I found a **1946 DDR Walking Liberty Half** listed as “choice uncirculated.” Dealer didn’t know it was a DDR. Paid $120. Worth $400+. In 18 months, this method has netted me **three major varieties**. Not targeted, but powerful.
Final Recommendations: What Actually Works
After 18 months, here’s my honest ranking:
- Coin Shows (1st) — Got the FS-101 here. Highest hit rate for *targeted* rarities. Bring a 20x loupe. And go back the next day for a second pass.
- Social Media Outreach (2nd) — Best for building a steady stream. Follow 5–10 trusted dealers. Use
Google Sheetsto track posts and follow up. - Collection Re-Examination (3rd) — Free finds. Schedule a “coin audit” every six months. New knowledge? New discoveries.
- Online Marketplaces (4th) — Only for bulk screening. Set saved searches:
"1937 quarter" AND "raw" AND "doubled". - Junk Silver (5th) — Fun, but low odds. Good for practice, not precision.
Pro tip: When you find a raw FS-101 (or any variety), submit it to PCGS Gold Shield. Get TrueView imaging and CAC verification. I did—my 1937 DDO came back 63+. That grade jump? Instant resale value boost.
Conclusion
The 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101 *is* out there. But it won’t fall into your lap. Coin shows? Still the best bet. Social media? A growing edge. Re-checking your own coins? Underrated but powerful.
Online and junk silver? Too slow, too random for this level of variety.
Success isn’t luck. It’s **a system**. Use the right method. Be patient. Use tools like image enhancement and dealer networks.
And don’t forget: the most valuable coin you own might already be in your drawer—just waiting for you to look again.
Related Resources
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