1939 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Spread towards the center showing on the date numerals characterizes this eighth documented doubled die obverse for the 1939 Philadelphia Mint Mercury Dime, one of the most beloved coin designs in American numismatics. A die gouge to the left of the lower Y in LIBERTY and a die crack running from the rim to the left of the T in LIBERTY well into the bonnet area provide obverse die markers. On the reverse, a small die gouge sits between the left star and the upper portion of the O in ONE. Cross-referenced under Wexler Variety ID: 1939 10¢ WDDO-008, attributed by the Wexler Team. Adolph A. Weinman's "Mercury" Dime — actually depicting a winged Liberty, not the Roman god Mercury — was struck from 1916 through 1945 and is considered one of the finest designs ever produced by the U.S. Mint. The 1939 Philadelphia Mint produced over 67.7 million dimes, a robust figure for the pre-war period. The spread towards center on the date — where the doubled image shifts inward — suggests a hubbing anomaly that compressed or shifted design elements toward the die's center during impression. The die crack running from the rim into the bonnet documents progressive die failure that may have developed during the die's service life, providing a secondary feature that collectors can use to confirm the die state of their specimen.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1939 10¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References