1936 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-017

Description

Seventeenth in the Wexler catalog of doubled die obverses for the 1936 Mercury Dime, WDDO-017 exhibits a spread to the center on the date and the designer's initials, with reverse die scratches between the F in OF and A in AMERICA serving as secondary attribution markers. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design — commonly called the Mercury Dime despite depicting Liberty rather than the Roman god — was in its twentieth year of production. The centripetal spread on the date and Weinman's AW monogram resulted from a secondary hub impression that shifted inward during die preparation, doubling the affected elements toward the coin's center. The reverse die scratches between OF and AMERICA confirm the particular working die and help distinguish WDDO-017 from the sixteen preceding doubled die obverses for this date. Struck in 90% silver at 17.9mm, the 1936 Philadelphia Mercury Dime was produced during the recovery years of the Great Depression. Examine the date digits and the small AW initials at the truncation of Liberty's neck for the characteristic centripetal spread, then confirm with the reverse die scratches.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 10¢ WDDO-017
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References