1926 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Identified by the Wexler Team, the 1926 Mercury Dime WDDO-004 displays a clockwise (CW) spread from a pivot point at approximately the 8 o'clock position, with the doubling visible on the letters ERTY of LIBERTY. Pivot or rotational doubling occurs when the hub and die are slightly misaligned in rotation during the hubbing process, creating an arc of displacement that is most pronounced at the point farthest from the pivot and diminishes to zero at the pivot itself. In this case, the 8 o'clock pivot means the doubling is strongest on the upper-right portions of the design, which is where ERTY falls on the Mercury Dime's obverse. Die markers critical for attribution include a nearly horizontal die scratch to the left of the T in LIBERTY on the obverse and a small die gouge — appearing as a dot — above the 9 in the date. The reverse shows no significant die markers, which may make die pair confirmation more challenging but also indicates that the reverse die was in relatively good condition during its service life. The Wexler variety identification is 1926 10-cent WDDO-004, with no other cross-references currently known. The 1926 Mercury Dime was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of approximately 32.1 million coins, placing it among the mid-range production figures for the series. Adolph Weinman's iconic winged Liberty head design, often misidentified as Mercury, creates a detailed obverse canvas where doubling on the letters of LIBERTY is both diagnostically significant and visually appealing under magnification. Collectors pursuing Mercury Dime doubled dies will find WDDO-004's combination of rotational doubling on ERTY and specific die markers provides a reliable attribution pathway for this moderately scarce variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1926 10¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References