1945 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Ninth in the Wexler-documented obverse doubled die census for the 1945 Mercury dime, WDDO-009 exhibits a close spread toward the center on the date and the designer's initial (the W monogram for Adolph A. Weinman) on the obverse of this final-year Winged Liberty design. Close spread directed toward the center indicates the secondary hub impression was displaced inward from the primary position, causing the peripheral design elements — the date at the bottom and the designer's initial — to show doubled images oriented toward the die's center rather than outward toward the rim. The obverse die carries two diagnostic markers: a die scratch running northwest-to-southeast above the OD in GOD, and a die gouge to the right of the bottom of the T in LIBERTY. The reverse shows no significant markers. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1945 10¢ WDDO-009, with no additional attribution system listings currently known. Philadelphia struck approximately 159.13 million Mercury dimes in 1945, the final year of Weinman's iconic design before John R. Sinnock's Roosevelt dime replaced it in 1946 following President Roosevelt's death. The Mercury dime's 1916-1945 run produced one of the most beloved designs in American numismatics, and final-year varieties carry particular collector interest as representatives of the design's twilight production. The close spread classification means the primary and secondary images nearly overlap, requiring careful examination at 15-20x magnification with oblique lighting to detect the center-directed displacement on the date numerals and the W initial. Collectors should first locate the NW/SE die scratch above OD and the die gouge near the T in LIBERTY to confirm the correct die, then examine the date and designer's initial under magnification for the subtle inward doubling.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Thomas McGowan Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1945 10¢ WDDO-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References