1937 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team, this 1937 Mercury Dime exhibits Class II hub doubling with spread towards center on the date. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design — popularly called the Mercury Dime — was struck in 90% silver from 1916 through 1945, and this Philadelphia Mint example comes from a year when production was climbing out of Depression lows. The obverse die carries parallel die scratches running northwest to southeast inside the upper B of LIBERTY, a die gouge below the right side of L in LIBERTY, and rotational die scratches throughout the obverse — suggesting lathe-based polishing during service. The reverse shows a die scratch from the left star to the bottom of the U in UNITED, and another from the bottom of the axe handle through the ribbon to the top of D in DIME. Class II doubling occurs when the hub rotates slightly between impressions during die-making, producing spread that converges toward a pivot point. On this die the pivot lies outside the date area, causing the numerals to show the distortion most clearly.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1937 10¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References