1945-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Submitted by Thomas McGowan and attributed by the Wexler Team, this 1945 Denver Mint Mercury Dime carries the WDDO-002 designation documenting northward doubled die obverse spread across several key design elements. The doubling appears on the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, Weinman's designer initials, the tips of wing feathers positioned between R and T in LIBERTY, the letters BER in LIBERTY, and the top of the distinctive winged Phrygian cap that gives the Mercury Dime its popular name. A die scratch extending west from the top of T in LIBERTY and another running southwest to northeast left of the nose serve as obverse die markers, while a die gouge below O in OF marks the reverse die. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head design, commonly known as the Mercury Dime, was in its thirtieth and final year of production in 1945, having debuted alongside his Walking Liberty Half Dollar in 1916. Both designs are widely regarded as among the most artistically accomplished in American coinage history. The 90% silver, 10% copper composition was standard for dimes throughout the Mercury Dime era. Denver maintained substantial dime production in 1945 as wartime economic activity drove high demand for circulating coinage. The northward spread visible on the winged cap, motto, date, and multiple LIBERTY letters provides an unusually comprehensive set of diagnostic features for a single doubled die variety.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1945-D 10¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References