1945 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Produced in the final year of Mercury Dime production before the series gave way to John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime in 1946, DDO-005 on the 1945 Philadelphia issue shows light spread on the date, IN GOD WE TRUST, and designer's initials AW on Adolph Weinman's obverse. Cross-referenced as 5-O-II-C in the CONECA system — variety 5, obverse, Class II distorted hub doubling with counterclockwise displacement — this variety shares the same Class II CCW mechanism as 1936 DDO-004 (4-O-II-C) but operates on a different date's dies with distinct markers UVC-250 and DMR-008. The last-year status gives DDO-005 added collecting significance: varieties from terminal-year issues carry a "last of the line" appeal, as no further Mercury Dime dies would be produced after 1945. Light spread across the date, IGWT, and AW initials indicates hub displacement affected the full lower-left quadrant of the obverse. The 1945 Mercury Dime was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver at 2.5 grams during the final months of World War II. Target the date under 7x magnification for the most accessible pickup point, then verify spread on IN GOD WE TRUST and the AW initials.

Die Markers

• UVC-250, DMR-008

Attribution History

• 5-O-II-C

External References