1939 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Struck during a year when war clouds were gathering over Europe, the 1939 Mercury Dime bearing WDDO-005 exhibits a close spread toward the center visible on the date numerals. This doubled die obverse was created during the hub-to-die transfer process, where a working hub impressed the design into a working die with slight misalignment between impressions, leaving remnant doubling on portions of the design. The spread direction — toward the center of the coin — characterizes the class of hub doubling involved and helps diagnosticians distinguish this die from other doubled dies of the same date. Adolph Weinman's Mercury Dime obverse, properly known as the Winged Liberty Head, features Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap, and the die markers for this variety are distinctive: an obverse die scratch running from northwest to southeast between the bottom of the chin and the D in GOD, and reverse die scratches running between the bottom cords and the letters D and I in DIME. These die markers serve as fingerprints that allow positive attribution even when the doubling itself is subtle. No cross-references to other cataloging systems are known for this variety, making the Wexler designation WDDO-005 the primary attribution. Mercury Dimes were struck from 1916 through 1945 in 90% silver, and doubled die varieties on this series command significant collector interest due to the design's enduring popularity. Documented by the Wexler Team, this fifth doubled die obverse for the 1939 date adds depth to the variety census for a series that remains one of the most beloved in American numismatics.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1939 10¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References