1942 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-001

Description

Primary doubled die reverse for the 1942 Mercury Dime, WDDR-001 carries the distinction of being the first-cataloged DDR for a wartime date that occupies a pivotal position in U.S. numismatic history — the last year of standard bronze cent composition and the year that nickel was removed from the five-cent piece. A spread toward the center shows on ONE, the leaves closest to the E of ONE, and the left star on Adolph A. Weinman's fasces-and-olive-branch reverse design. Die markers include a die gouge near the rim below the right point of the W in WE and a NW/SE die scratch in the field located lower left of the designer's initials on the obverse, with a die dent between the left lower side of the E in DIME and the rim on the reverse. Attributed by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1942 10¢ WDDR-001, with no other cross-references currently known. The 1942 Mercury Dime was struck in 90% silver at Philadelphia with a mintage of approximately 205.4 million pieces, one of the largest production figures in the series' thirty-year run. The Mercury Dime's reverse features the Roman fasces wrapped in an olive branch — a symbol of authority tempered by peace — with fine design details that respond visibly to hub doubling, particularly the individual leaves and the star elements flanking the denomination.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Feld Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1942 10¢ WDDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References