1936-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Occupying the lead position in the obverse doubled die census for the 1936-D Mercury dime, DDO-001 displays light spread on the date, Adolph Weinman's designer initials AW, and the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse of this celebrated American coin design featuring a youthful Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap — a design frequently misidentified as the Roman god Mercury, giving the series its popular collecting name. Cross-referenced as 1-O-II-C in the CONECA classification system, the variety is categorized as Class II hub doubling affecting multiple obverse elements. VarietyVista assigned die markers UVC-077 and DMR-007, and the editorial notation indicates the need for updated digital photographs, suggesting current documentation relies on earlier-generation imagery. Denver struck approximately 16.13 million Mercury dimes in 1936, a Depression-era mintage that reflected improving economic conditions and growing numismatic interest during a year that also saw the Denver Mint produce the famous 1936-D Buffalo nickel — a key semi-rare date in that series. The light spread designation places DDO-001 at the subtle end of the doubling visibility spectrum, where the secondary hub impression is displaced by a narrow margin and requires careful examination to confirm. The affected elements — date, designer initials, and IGWT — span the lower right and upper left portions of the obverse, indicating a hub displacement with broad coverage across the die face. Weinman's finely detailed obverse design, with its delicate wing feathers and flowing hair strands, provides textured surfaces where even light doubling can be detected by experienced examiners. As DDO-001, this represents the most notable obverse doubled die for the 1936-D issue, making it a priority target for Mercury dime variety collectors.

Die Markers

• UVC-077, DMR-007

Attribution History

• 1-O-II-C

External References