1964 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-027

Description

Twenty-seventh in the Wexler-documented reverse doubled die census for the 1964 Roosevelt silver dime, WDDR-027 shows a very close spread toward the center on UNITED, the separator dot, and E P of E PLURIBUS UNUM. The center-directed spread indicates the secondary hub impression was displaced slightly inward, compressing the upper reverse inscriptions toward the design's central axis on John R. Sinnock's dime reverse that features a torch flanked by olive and oak branches. Philadelphia struck approximately 929.3 million dimes in 1964, a colossal output driven by the nationwide coin shortage and the final year of 90% silver dime production before the Coinage Act of 1965 transitioned to clad composition. Obverse die markers provide critical secondary diagnostics: a NE/SW die scratch sits between the lower jaw and the O in GOD, fingerprinting this specific working die. On the reverse, a N/S die scratch is positioned nearly centered between the lower opening of the E in STATES, offering an independent confirmation point. The Wexler Team cataloged this as Wexler Variety ID: 1964 10-cent WDDR-027, with no additional cross-references currently known. The very close spread designation places this variety among the most subtle doubled die categories, where the primary and secondary impressions nearly overlay each other, producing thickened letter strokes rather than distinctly separated doubled images. On silver dimes, the softer planchet metal and sharp die impressions can actually aid detection of very close spreads compared to clad coinage, because the silver composition allows finer detail transfer. Collectors should examine UNITED and the dot and EP under at least 20x magnification with angled illumination to detect the slight center-directed thickening.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Feld Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1964 10¢ WDDR-027
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References