1943 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

The most comprehensive doubled die reverse cataloged for the wartime 1943 Philadelphia Mercury Dime, DDR-001 exhibits strong extra thickness across four major reverse design areas: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DIME, the flanking stars, and UNUM — the closing word of E PLURIBUS UNUM. Joe Miller reported this variety. The strong classification across four simultaneously affected areas marks DDR-001 as an exceptionally pervasive variety: the hub re-impression broadened virtually every text element and decorative feature on the reverse to a readily visible degree, leaving few design elements unaffected. Adolph A. Weinman's Mercury Dime reverse features a Roman fasces with olive branch as its central motif, surrounded by the affected inscriptions and stars, and the strong extra thickness makes the broadened letter strokes and widened star points apparent even at low magnification. The 1943 Mercury Dime was struck during World War II in 90% silver at 2.5 grams — unlike the Jefferson Nickel, the dime retained its standard silver composition throughout the war because nickel was not a component of the dime alloy. As DDR-001, this variety anchors the reversed doubled die catalog for the 1943 Philadelphia issue, representing the strongest and most significant reverse hub doubling documented for the date. The breadth of affected areas — spanning denomination, nationality, motto, and decorative elements — provides abundant confirmation points for authentication.

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