1940-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-010

Description

Very close Class II spread towards the center appears on the date and the LIB in LIBERTY on this 1940-D Mercury Dime, the tenth doubled die obverse documented for the Denver Mint production of Adolph A. Weinman's iconic Winged Liberty Head design. Class II doubling results from a distorted or warped hub being impressed into the die, and the "towards the center" directional qualifier indicates the secondary image is displaced inward toward the coin's center rather than outward toward the rim. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID 1940-D 10c WDDO-010 with no other known cross-references, the obverse die markers include a short NNW/SSE die gouge below the E in WE and a die crack running NNE from the rim at approximately 6:30 into the base of the bust. The reverse carries a die gouge between the M and E in DIME. The Mercury Dime series (1916-1945) is renowned for the beauty of Weinman's design — the winged cap represents liberty of thought, though the public quickly nicknamed it "Mercury" after the Roman god. The 1940-D was struck at Denver during the final years before World War II altered Mint operations. Ten documented DDOs for this date indicates robust variety research, and the combination of Class II characteristics with specific die markers makes WDDO-010 attributable through multiple diagnostic criteria.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-D 10¢ WDDO-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References