1939 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

A proof-only variety, the 1939 Mercury Dime DDO-004 displays graduated doubling strength across the obverse — strong extra thickness on the date and designer Adolph Weinman's initials, medium extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, and light extra thickness on LIBERTY. This decreasing intensity from the date area outward is characteristic of hub doubling where the pivot point of misalignment is located away from the date, producing maximum displacement at the farthest design elements. Cross-referenced as PR-4-O-VI and cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-256 with die marriage DMR-006, this variety appears exclusively on proof strikes from the 1939 Philadelphia Mint production. Proof Mercury Dimes of 1939 had a mintage of approximately 9,321 sets, making any die variety from this limited proof run inherently scarce. The graduated doubling pattern — strong to medium to light across different design elements — provides a diagnostic hierarchy that aids in identification, with the date and Weinman's AW monogram being the best locations to begin examination under magnification.

Die Markers

• UVC-256, DMR-006

Attribution History

• PR-4-O-VI

External References