1937 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Documented by the Wexler Team under variety identification 1937 10-cent WDDO-009, this Mercury Dime doubled die obverse shows a spread to the north on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design — commonly called the "Mercury" dime despite depicting Liberty rather than the Roman god — features the fasces reverse and the iconic winged cap obverse that has captivated collectors since its 1916 introduction. The northward spread indicates that the die shifted upward between hub impressions during the hubbing process, creating a secondary image above the primary design elements on the date digits and the motto. Die markers for attribution include a vertical die scratch to the left of Liberty's lips on the obverse, and a die scratch running west-southwest from the top left of the B in LIBERTY. On the reverse, a die gouge can be found south of the first S in STATES, providing a secondary confirmation point. No cross-references to other cataloging systems are currently known for this variety, making the Wexler designation the primary attribution. The 1937 Philadelphia Mint Mercury Dime was produced in substantial quantities — over 56 million coins — during a period when Depression-era recovery was driving increased demand for circulating coinage. Mercury Dimes from the mid-to-late 1930s are among the most actively searched dates for doubled die varieties, as the design's fine detail and the Mint's production volumes combined to produce numerous documented hub doubling events across the series run.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1937 10¢ WDDO-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References