1937 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-007

Description

Class II hub doubling — a distorted rotation pulling design elements toward the center — is confined to the date on this 1937 Mercury Dime, designated WDDO-007 by the Wexler Team. While the obverse carries no significant markers beyond the doubling itself, the reverse provides two useful diagnostics: parallel die scratches running northwest from the I in DIME, and a nearly horizontal die scratch inside the upper portion of the M in DIME. These reverse markers help confirm attribution when the date doubling alone might be ambiguous. Adolph Weinman's "Winged Liberty Head" design — widely but inaccurately called the Mercury Dime — depicts Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap symbolizing freedom of thought, not the Roman messenger god. The 1937 issue fell during the design's mature era, twenty-one years into a run that would continue through 1945. Date doubling on Mercury Dimes requires careful examination because the incuse date sits in a recessed area of the design where wear can obscure subtle hub displacement. The Class II center-pulling spread on the date creates a slight compression effect that distinguishes it from the more common radial or rotational patterns. Struck in 90% silver at 17.9mm. Check the date for Class II spread, and confirm using the parallel scratches from DIME's I and the scratch in the upper M.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Raines Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1937 10¢ WDDO-007
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References