1964 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-015

Description

Fifteenth in the Wexler-documented reverse doubled die census for the 1964 Roosevelt dime proof, WDDR-015 shows slight notching on the UNI letters of UNITED and light extra thickness on the E PLU of E PLURIBUS UNUM on John R. Sinnock's reverse design featuring a torch flanked by olive and oak branches. The Wexler Team cataloged this variety under Wexler Variety ID: 1964 10c Pr WDDR-015, with the "Pr" designation confirming this die was employed in proof production at the Philadelphia Mint. Proof Roosevelt dimes in 1964 were included in approximately 3.95 million proof sets — the last year of 90% silver composition for circulation-strike dimes before the Coinage Act of 1965 mandated the switch to copper-nickel clad. Obverse die markers include a small die gouge positioned just above the nine in the date, providing a secondary diagnostic independent of the reverse doubling itself. No significant reverse die markers beyond the doubling were recorded. The slight notching on UNI — where the doubling manifests as small step-like serrations along the letter edges — differs from the light extra thickness on E PLU, where the letters appear marginally wider than normal due to a secondary impression that nearly overlaps the primary. These two manifestations of the same hub doubling event reflect how different areas of the die surface receive the displacement at slightly different angles and intensities. Proof production's polished dies and carefully prepared planchets create mirror-finish surfaces that can make subtle doubling both easier and harder to detect — the reflective fields provide excellent contrast but can also introduce visual artifacts under certain lighting conditions. Collectors should use 15-20x magnification on the UNI and E PLU areas, first confirming the obverse die gouge above the 9 as a die identification checkpoint.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1964 10¢ Pr WDDR-015
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References