1959 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1959 10-cent WDDR-001 and cross-referenced as CONECA 1-R-VI, this Roosevelt Silver Dime doubled die reverse holds the primary DDR catalog position for the inaugural year of the design's second decade of production. The variety displays extra thickness on most of the reverse letters, with doubling showing particularly well on E PLU of E PLURIBUS UNUM — the partial-word emphasis indicating the hub displacement vector produced maximum visibility on those specific letter positions within the motto inscription. Obverse die markers include a die chip centered inside the R of LIBERTY, a north-south die scratch between the lower R and T of LIBERTY, and a die chip on the nose above the nostril — three distinct confirmation points that fingerprint this specific working die. Reverse die markers add further diagnostic value: die chips on the outside of the upper curve of the second S in STATES, and die chips between the right dot and the E of DIME positioned closer to the dot. The Roosevelt Dime was designed by John R. Sinnock, and the 1959 issue was struck in 90% silver composition (1.8 grams of pure silver in each coin), weighing 2.5 grams at 17.9 mm diameter — just six years before the Coinage Act of 1965 would end silver dime production. The CONECA 1-R-VI cross-reference places this as the primary reverse variety in the Class VI (distorted hub doubling) category. Examination under magnification should focus on the E PLU letters as the strongest diagnostic area before confirming with the die chip inside the R of LIBERTY.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Feld Cross References: CONECA: 1-R-VI
• CONECA: 1-R-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1959 10¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References