1940-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Cross-referenced as CONECA 4-O-VI and cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1940-S 10-cent WDDO-008, this Mercury Dime doubled die obverse shows strong extra thickness on the date, designer Adolph A. Weinman's initials, and the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST," with some additional extra thickness visible on "LIBERTY." The CONECA classification 4-O-VI breaks down to: listing number 4 in the CONECA registry, obverse die, Class VI doubling — a designation indicating the doubling was produced by a distended die or similar distortion mechanism during the hubbing process. Class VI varieties are less commonly cataloged than the more familiar Class I through V types, making this Mercury Dime variety of particular interest to collectors who study hub doubling classifications as a discipline. No significant die markers have been noted on either the obverse or the reverse, meaning attribution relies on matching the doubling pattern against Wexler reference images rather than confirming secondary die characteristics. San Francisco struck 21,560,000 dimes in 1940, and the Mercury Dime was entering the final phase of its production life — only five more years remained before John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt portrait replaced Weinman's design in 1946. Eight documented doubled die obverses for the 1940-S date represents a robust variety catalog, reflecting decades of collector examination of this popular date. The "strong extra thickness" description indicates the doubling is more pronounced than typical "light" spread varieties, potentially making this variety detectable under 7x to 10x magnification rather than requiring the 20x or higher power needed for subtle spreads. Mercury Dime doubled dies are prized by collectors who appreciate the series' artistic design and the challenge of cherry-picking varieties from dealer stock.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: CONECA: 4-O-VI
• CONECA: 4-O-VI; Wexler Variety ID: 1940-S 10¢ WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References