1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-007

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1945 10-cent WDDO-007 and submitted by Thomas McGowan, this Mercury Dime displays a spread towards the center on the date and Adolph A. Weinman's designer initials (AW monogram at the truncation of Liberty's neck). No other cross-references are currently known. Obverse die markers include die scratches running SSW/NNE to the left of the forehead, while the reverse shows a small die gouge (dot) to the right of the bottom of the first S in STATES and a die scratch running NW/SE below the TA in STATES. The inward-directed (center-seeking) spread on the date and designer's initials indicates a Class VI distended hub or a pivot-based displacement where the secondary impression shifted toward the coin's center, producing doubled images on the interior side of the affected elements. The Mercury Dime — properly called the Winged Liberty Head Dime — was designed by Adolph A. Weinman and struck in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 2.50 grams at 17.9 mm diameter. The 1945 Philadelphia Mint issue had a mintage of 159,130,000 dimes, the final year of production before the design was replaced by John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime in 1946. The small AW initials on the neck truncation provide a particularly sensitive diagnostic for center-directed spread because their fine engraving amplifies even subtle displacement into detectable doubling. Examination under 10x magnification should focus on the date digits and initials area.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1945 10¢ WDDO-007
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References