How I Identified and Secured the 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101 (Step-by-Step Cherrypicking Guide)

I’ll never forget the moment I spotted that 1937 Washington Quarter. My heart raced—though I kept my face perfectly neutral. There it was, sitting in a dealer’s junk bin: a 1937 Washington Quarter DDO (FS-101), hiding in plain sight as a “common” date. Most collectors would’ve walked right past it. But I didn’t. Here’s exactly how I found it, how I confirmed it was real, and how you can do the same—no luck required, just a method that works.

The Problem: Why This Coin Is So Easy to Miss

The 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101 is a killer find in the early Washington series. But here’s the catch: the doubling is so subtle, most people assume it doesn’t exist. Under a loupe, the “IN GOD WE TRUST” motto shows a ghostly second image beneath the letters—like a shadow copy. It’s real. It’s rare. And it’s *so* often missed because:

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• Dealers are rushing through silver piles. They see “1937” and move on.

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• Many reference guides don’t highlight this variety well—or worse, list it as “unobtainable raw.”

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• People confuse doubling for wear, scratches, or die damage. (Spoiler: it’s not.)

How I Almost Let It Slip Away

I was at a local coin show, scanning cases on my second pass—always do that. First glance? I saw a 1937 quarter in a mixed bin. I thought, *meh, nothing special*. But something nagged me on the way back. The IGWT lettering looked… off. Not fuzzy. Not worn. *Doubled.* I flipped out my 10x loupe and held my breath. There it was: the “W” in “WE” and the “R” in “TRUST” had a crisp, floating shadow beneath them. Not damage. Not machine doubling. A true doubled die. I almost missed it—because I’d almost trusted my first glance.

Step 1: Verification Using a Magnified Inspection Protocol

Before I even thought about buying, I had to be sure. Not just sure—*100% certain* it was a DDO, not some common flaw. Here’s how I checked:

Use a 10x Loupe with Side Lighting

Forget overhead light. Tilt the coin at a 45-degree angle under a directional LED light. The shadows pop. Look for:

• Parallel lines—the doubled letters are offset but *parallel*, not smeared.

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• Same depth—the shadow isn’t on the surface. It’s carved into the die.
• Clean edges—no tooling marks or “blobby” letters. DDOs are precise.

If it looks like someone took a knife to the coin? It’s not a die variety. Walk away.

Compare Known Reference Images

I pulled up the Fivaz-Stanton (FS) attribution guide on my phone. Found the FS-101 entry. Compared my coin side by side. The match was dead-on:

• Clear doubling on “IN GOD WE TRUST”—especially the “W” and “R.”
• Faint but visible doubling on the “1” and “9” in the date.
• No die cracks or clashes. This was an early die state—not a degraded one.

Test with a Digital Microscope (If You Have One)

I keep a USB digital microscope in my bag ($50–$100 on Amazon). Plug it into your phone or laptop. Zoom in at 50x. Suddenly, micro-doubling shows up—stuff you’d never see with a loupe. I snapped a photo, saved it with a timestamp, and tagged it: “#1937DDO – Found at [Show Name].” That image later helped me when I submitted to PCGS.

Step 2: The Cherrypicking Strategy—Buying Smart

Now the real test: getting it without tipping off the dealer. This is where most people blow it.

Do Not React

I handed the coin back casually. “Just looking for commons for my set,” I said. No excitement. No pause. No questions about “doubled die” or “varieties.” The dealer priced it at $20—$15 above melt. Steal.

Bundle with Other Coins

I grabbed two other quarters and a 1964 half. Made it look like a bulk purchase. “How about these?” I asked. He didn’t even glance at the 1937 again. I paid cash—no digital paper trail, no “Hey, that guy was super interested in that one coin” later.

Ask for “As-Is” Pricing

One key line: “You’re selling these as common dates, right?” He nodded. That meant he wasn’t offering a variety coin. No obligation to adjust the price if he later noticed the doubling. Legal? Yes. Smart? Absolutely.

Step 3: Submission to PCGS—Maximizing Value and Authentication

I’ve seen too many raw varieties get missed in grading. Never assume PCGS will catch it. You have to *show* them.

Pre-Submission Documentation

Before I shipped it, I:

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• Photographed the coin next to a coin slab ruler, with the PCGS attribution overlay on my screen.

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• Made a submission memo—printed the FS-101 page, circled the key areas in red.
• Used Gold Shield service. Why? TrueView images + guaranteed attribution. Worth every penny.

Handling and Packaging

I never touch the surface. Used a 2×2 cardboard holder with Mylar flips. Wrote “1937 Quarter – DOUBLED DIE OBVERSE – FS-101” in red ink on the flip. No guesswork when it hits PCGS.

Tracking and Communication

Chose express tracking and email alerts. Watched the “Quality Check” status like a hawk. When it hit that stage, I sent a quick chat to PCGS: “Coin #XYZ—please confirm FS-101 doubling. Attached reference images.” They responded in *48 hours*. Attributed. Slabbed. Done.

Step 4: Troubleshooting Common Submission Issues

Even with prep, things go sideways. Here’s how I fixed mine.

Problem: Coin Not Attributed

Solution: I had a backup attribution packet ready. Printed the relevant page from the Cherrypickers’ Guide, 5th Edition—page 112, circled. Emailed it with “Please review for FS-101” in the subject. Got a reply: “Thank you. We’ll re-examine.” Fixed.

Problem: Grade Lower Than Expected

Got AU55, not Uncirculated. Fair—there was light field wear. But I argued for a plus grade. Used the TrueView images to show strong luster, no hits. PCGS agreed: AU55+. That small “+” added ~30% to the value.

Problem: Delay in Quality Check

Stuck in review? I used PCGS’s “Expedited Review” option ($25). Also called grading directly with my case number. Got a human on the line. No more waiting.

Step 5: Post-Submission—Maximizing the Win

Once it was slabbed, I didn’t just file it away. I:

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• Posted the TrueView on my Instagram coin account with #CherrypickOfTheYear and #1937DDO.

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• Added it to my PCGS Set Registry—boosted my overall ranking.
• Listed it on eBay and Collectors.com with “FS-101” in the title and “TrueView Included” in the description.

Sold in three days for 5x face value. Not a life-changing sum, but a 400% return on a $20 coin? I’ll take it.

Actionable Takeaways: Apply This to Your Next Cherrypick

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• Carry a 10x loupe and a directional LED light—every time. These are your eyes.

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• Always do a second pass at shows—first impressions lie.

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• Buy in bundles—never make one coin the focus.
• Use Gold Shield for rare varieties—TrueViews and attribution guarantees win.
• Document everything—photos, notes, references. They’re your proof.

Conclusion: The System Works—If You Stick to the Process

Finding a 1937 Washington Quarter DDO FS-101 isn’t about luck. It’s about process. I didn’t “get lucky.” I verified under magnification. I bought smart. I submitted with evidence. I troubleshot when things went wrong. Every coin show, every junk silver box, every estate sale has coins like this—coins that look “common” but aren’t. The old guys behind the tables? They’re not looking for doubling. They’re looking for speed. But if *you* are, if you’ve got your loupe, your light, and your checklist, you’ll be the one who walks away with the prize. Your next big find? It’s already out there. You just have to look a little closer.

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