1960 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

On this proof-issue Roosevelt silver dime, a close spread appears on the designer's initials JS (for John R. Sinnock) while extra thickness strengthens the letters of TRUST, confirming the WDDO-001 doubled die obverse attribution. Submitted by Frank Baumann to the Wexler Team and cataloged as 1960 10¢ Pr WDDO-001, this variety carries no additional cross-references in the CONECA or Fivaz-Stanton files. Die markers on the obverse include a die gouge to the right of the top of the L in LIBERTY, along with die scratches running SSW/NNE and SW/NE on the front of Roosevelt's neck. The reverse presents no significant attribution markers. As a proof issue, this variety originates from the San Francisco Mint's proof production line (though proofs carried no mintmark until 1968, when S-mint proof production formally began). The 1960 proof set included 1,691,602 units, establishing the maximum possible population for this die variety. Roosevelt dimes from this period were struck in 90% silver composition, and the proof versions exhibit deep mirror fields characteristic of the era's two-blow proof striking process. Because the doubling on WDDO-001 is described as "close" rather than "strong," examination under at least 10x magnification is recommended, with particular attention to the designer's initials at the base of Roosevelt's neck truncation where the spread is most diagnostic. The extra thickness on TRUST provides a secondary confirmation point that helps distinguish genuine hub doubling from the flat shelf displacement of machine doubling.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mike Ellis Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 10¢ Pr WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References