1940-D Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-004

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1940-D 10¢ WDDR-004, this doubled die reverse variety appears on a 1940-D Mercury dime struck at the Denver Mint. The Mercury dime, properly known as the Winged Liberty Head dime, was designed by Adolph A. Weinman and produced from 1916 through 1945 in 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 2.5 grams with a 17.9 mm diameter and a reeded edge. Denver struck 21,198,000 dimes in 1940, contributing to the era's growing production figures as the Depression lifted and defense spending accelerated. The doubling on WDDR-004 is classified as Class II (distorted hub), with a spread toward the center visible on the letters USA, the leaves above the mintmark, the top of the axe and fasces, and the leaves below the word OF on Weinman's reverse design featuring the Roman fasces bound with an olive branch. This spread-toward-center pattern indicates the hub was slightly distorted during the hubbing process, causing design elements to shift inward relative to their intended positions. Notably, this die also carries a repunched mintmark variety listed in the Wexler RPM Files as 1940-D 10¢ WRPM-001, a D/D North, meaning the D mintmark was punched into the die twice with the first impression positioned slightly north of the final placement. Obverse die markers include a short die gouge protruding from the bottom right of the L in LIBERTY. On the reverse, a short vertical die gouge can be found above the N in ONE. The combination of a doubled die reverse and a repunched mintmark on the same coin makes this a particularly desirable variety for Mercury dime specialists, as dual-variety dies are less common and provide collectors with two distinct attribution points on a single specimen. Weinman's fasces reverse, with its bundled rods, axe blade, and olive branch, offers considerable fine detail where hub doubling becomes detectable.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-D 10¢ WDDR-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References