1931-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1931-D 10c WDDO-003, this doubled die obverse on the 1931 Denver Mercury Dime exhibits a spread towards the center on the date, the letters of IN GOD WE TRUST, the designer's initials (AW for Adolph A. Weinman), and the Y of LIBERTY. The "spread towards center" classification indicates a Class II distorted hub mechanism, where internal stresses or machining errors in the hub caused the secondary impression to contract slightly relative to the primary image. Die markers on the obverse include a die crack running from the rim to the wing just to the left of the T in LIBERTY. On the reverse, a die scratch connects the top two olive leaves to the left of the lower axe blade, and another die scratch runs east-northeast from the right side of the fasces north of the E in E PLURIBUS UNUM. Weinman's iconic Mercury Dime design, depicting Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap (often mistaken for the Roman god Mercury), was struck from 1916 to 1945 in 90% silver composition weighing 2.50 grams at 17.9 mm diameter with a reeded edge. The 1931-D had a Depression-era mintage of only 1,260,000 coins, making it a key date in the Mercury Dime series and one where any die variety carries enhanced significance due to the limited production run.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1931-D 10¢ WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References