1929-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Adolph A. Weinman's Walking Liberty Half Dollar — widely regarded as one of the most artistically accomplished designs in American coinage — produced a notable doubled die reverse at the San Francisco Mint in 1929. Cataloged as DDR-001 by VarietyVista with attribution codes UVC-168 and DMR-002, this variety exhibits extra thickness on reverse design elements consistent with hub doubling. Three distinct die stages have been documented: Stage A represents an early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B shows the reverse and obverse in mid-die-state condition, and Stage C captures the die in a late state (unconfirmed). The 1929-S is a semi-key date in the Walking Liberty series, struck in lower quantities at San Francisco during a year that would close with the stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression. Collectors seeking this variety should examine reverse lettering and design elements carefully under magnification, as the extra thickness diagnostic distinguishes it from normal die wear.

Die Markers

• UVC-168
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Brian Raines
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References