     # currently selected date. This object must be of type moment() or blank.
     # If blank, the input element within the DatePicker component will display the
     # text identified in the placeholderText attribute (specified below)
-    selectedDate: ''
+    selectedDate: moment(this.props.subject.meta_data.year + "-01-01")
 
   # this can go into a mixin? (common across all transcribe tools)
   getPosition: (data) ->

  handleBadMark: ()->
    newAnnotation = []
    newAnnotation["low_quality_subject"]

  render: ->
    return null if @props.loading # hide transcribe tool while loading image

              disabled: @props.badSubject

            <DatePicker
              selected={this.state.selectedDate}
              onChange={@handleDateChange}
              placeholderText="Click to select a date"
              minDate={ moment( this.props.subject.meta_data.year + "-01-01" ) }
              maxDate={ moment( String(parseInt(this.props.subject.meta_data.year) + 1) + "-01-01" ) }
              type="custom-date"
              {...atts}
            />
