1945-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

As the final year of the Mercury Dime before the Roosevelt Dime replaced it in 1946, the 1945-S holds inherent significance — and WDDR-002 adds a compelling doubled die reverse to that terminal-year status. Attributed by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA 1-R-VI, this variety displays extra thickness across a wide swath of the reverse: USA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, the separating dots, the stars, and ONE DIME are all affected. Such broad coverage indicates a strong hub doubling event that shifted a substantial portion of the reverse during hubbing. The obverse carries a Ball Serif S mintmark — a San Francisco punch style with rounded serif terminals — along with a light vertical die scratch running north-to-south left of Liberty's nose, lips, and chin as a diagnostic marker. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design had been in production since 1916, and by 1945 San Francisco was striking its final dimes of the type. The breadth of doubling across so many elements makes WDDR-002 one of the more visually rewarding doubled die varieties for Mercury Dime collectors.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: CONECA: 1-R-VI
• CONECA: 1-R-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1945-S 10¢ WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References