1936 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-008

Description

Cross-referenced under the CONECA numbering system as 8-O-II-C — denoting the eighth obverse variety, Class II distorted hub doubling, range C — DDO-008 on the 1936 Philadelphia Mercury Dime exhibits medium spread on the date and Adolph A. Weinman's designer initials. Weinman's distinctive AW monogram appears near the truncation of Liberty's neck on the obverse, a small but intricately engraved feature where hub doubling produces visible offset on the intertwined letter strokes. The "Mercury Dime" — officially the Winged Liberty Head Dime — was Weinman's masterwork for the denomination, produced from 1916 to 1945 in 90% silver at 2.5 grams. Class II distorted hub doubling occurs when the working hub is tilted or angled during impression, producing doubling that varies in magnitude across the die face rather than showing uniform displacement. This mechanism explains why the spread concentrates on the date and initials while other obverse elements may show lesser effects. The 1936 date falls within the Depression era, when mintages had partially recovered from the extreme lows of the early 1930s. Medium spread on both the date digits and the AW monogram provides two distinct diagnostic zones for confirmation.

Attribution History

• 8-O-II-C

External References