1936 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Eighth cataloged doubled die obverse for the 1936 Mercury Dime in the Wexler system, this variety exhibits a close Class II spread towards the center on the date. Class II doubling results from distorted hub impressions where the working hub deformed slightly between successive contacts with the die, producing extra thickness rather than the cleanly separated images characteristic of other doubling classes. The spread direction toward center indicates the secondary impression displaced inward relative to the primary. Die markers provide fixed attribution diagnostics: on the obverse, a die scratch runs parallel to the rim from the I to the B in LIBERTY, with northwest-to-southeast die scratches visible above GOD; on the reverse, a short die scratch runs west from the top left of the I in DIME. Wexler Variety ID: 1936 10c WDDO-008. No additional cross-references are known. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design, often called the "Mercury" Dime for its resemblance to the Roman messenger god, was struck at the Philadelphia Mint on 90% silver planchets at 2.50 grams. The 1936 Philadelphia Mercury Dime was produced during the Great Depression, when the Mint struck coins in modest quantities relative to the high-volume years of the 1940s that would follow.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Affanato Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1936 10¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References