1936-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Third in the Wexler census of working die doubled obverses for the 1936-D Mercury dime, WDDO-003 exhibits a spread toward the center on the date. Denver produced approximately 16.1 million Mercury dimes in 1936, a relatively modest output compared to Philadelphia's 87.5 million for the same year. The Wexler Team documented this as Wexler Variety ID: 1936-D 10¢ WDDO-003, with no other known cross-references and no significant die markers on either side. Toward-center spread on the date means the secondary hub impression shifted the date numerals inward — toward the center of the die face — producing a doubling direction that points away from the rim. This directional characteristic distinguishes WDDO-003 from doubled dies that show the more common outward or lateral spread patterns. Three documented obverse doubled dies for the 1936-D date, struck from a facility with moderate output, indicates committed cherry-picking activity by Mercury dime specialists working through Denver-mint examples. The lower Denver mintage relative to Philadelphia gives each documented die variety a proportionally smaller surviving population, though the relationship between mintage and variety survival rates also depends on how long each die remained in service. Examination should focus on the date numerals under magnification, looking for the characteristic inward displacement of the secondary impression.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1936-D 10¢ WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References