[The following excerpt is published courtesy of DLRC Press and its author, David W. Lange. This information was originally published in 2005 in The Complete Guide to Mercury Dimes]
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MINTAGE: 159,130,000 (Ranking 73/77)
POPULAR VARIETIES: Two doubled-die obverse varieties and one doubled-die reverse are known.90 All of them are quite minor, but one is illustrated here (photo).
This issue seems to have been particularly plagued by die clashings. Shown here is the “Leaved” variety in which an inverted impression of the olive branch from the reverse die is seen on the obverse. Also commonly found are brilliant patches in the fields from vigorous lapping of the die (photos). This phenomenon sometimes is called “die burn.”
Other varieties include an obverse die dot of unknown cause and a reverse die cud, in which a piece of the die has actually broken away. Finally, at least one reverse die displays a crack from the top of the wreath to the rim.
RARITY: Common in all grades short of fully struck gem, original rolls likely exist. 1945(P) is the rarest coin in the series with full bands, and striking quality in general is less than desirable with this issue.
The rarity of 1945(P) dimes having full bands is such that it invites fraud. Beware of Denver and San Francisco Mint coins that have had their mintmarks removed. Also watch for bands which have been separated through cutting with a blade, machine tool or laser. All three operations have been employed, and buyers should stick to certified coins when purchasing a full bands example of this issue.
COMMENTS: The reason for this issue being so rare with full center bands has never been satisfactorily explained. Since the dies for all three mints were prepared at Philadelphia, there was nothing fundamentally different about them. Even if some of the revere dies lacked center bands altogether, due to inadequate hubbing, their distribution would have been random among the three mints. The mints were likewise using very similar equipment in striking the coins, all presses of that period being electrically powered and having a knuckle action.
There were only two variables in the minting equation: One was the collars, as these typically were machined onsite at each of the different mints. The second variable is the upsetting mill, which applied a raised rim to each planchet before it was sent to the coin press. Slight differences in the diameter of the collar or the curvature of the rims could result in detectable variations in the finished coins. An excellent example of this influence is found in the 1921(P) dimes, which almost invariably have full bands, yet typically are weak at their peripheries.
Ironically, the coins of this date most likely to have split or full bands are error pieces. The unconventional displacement of metal associated with broadstruck, off-centered or struck-through dimes has left many with strong central details, including the center bands! For some examples of this curious phenomenon see Chapter 2.
