1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Exhibiting a Class II spread toward the center visible on WE, the TR of TRUST, the date, and the designer's initials, this second Wexler-cataloged doubled die obverse for the 1945 Mercury Dime captures a wartime-era hubbing anomaly on one of America's most beloved coin designs. Adolph Weinman's Winged Liberty Head — popularly known as the Mercury Dime — features fine detail in the wings, fasces, and lettering that makes doubled die effects particularly diagnostic when they occur. Class II Distorted Hub Doubling produces a spread toward the center of the coin, distinguishing it from the outward separation of Class I varieties. Die markers include a vertical die scratch between the back of the neck and the designer's initials on the obverse, while the reverse shows numerous light vertical die scratches north of E PLURIBUS UNUM. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1945 10c WDDO-002 with no other known cross-references, this variety was documented by the Wexler Team. The 1945 was the final year of the Mercury Dime series — John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt Dime replaced it in 1946, making doubled die varieties from 1945 terminal-year collectibles. The Philadelphia Mint struck over 159 million dimes in 1945 on 90% silver planchets, and this DDO-002 documents one of the last hubbing errors to occur on dies bearing Weinman's iconic design before its retirement from production.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1945 10¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References