1936 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-006

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team, WDDO-006 of the 1936 Mercury Dime displays a close Class II spread toward the center, visible on the date and designer's initials. Class II doubling results from a distorted hub, producing a spread that converges toward a pivot point rather than showing uniform separation. Diagnostic die markers support the attribution: a die crack runs from the rim left of the T in LIBERTY into the wing on Liberty's Phrygian cap — the distinctive winged headpiece that earned the Winged Liberty Head design its "Mercury" nickname. A second die crack runs northeast from the rim at about 7:00 into the base of the bust. No significant reverse markers have been noted. Adolph Weinman's acclaimed 1916 design was in its twentieth production year in 1936, when the series enjoyed robust mintages following the lean Depression years. The convergence of doubling on both the date and designer's initials concentrates visual interest in the lower obverse, making these the primary areas for collectors to examine.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Van Note Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 10¢ WDDO-006
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References