1961 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Holding the primary DDO-001 designation for the 1961 Franklin Half Dollar, this variety displays medium spread on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the designer's initials JRS (John R. Sinnock). Franklin Half Dollars were entering the final stretch of their fifteen-year run when this die was produced — the series would be replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964 following President Kennedy's assassination. Die markers tracked under UVC-155 and DMR-003 document three stages: Stage A in Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B with both obverse and reverse in confirmed Mid-Die State, and Stage C in Late Die State (unconfirmed). The medium spread across four distinct obverse elements — legend, motto, date, and initials — indicates a hub displacement substantial enough to be detected without extreme magnification, placing this variety among the more accessible DDOs for collectors working within the Franklin Half series. Cataloged by VarietyVista, DDO-001 represents the most significant obverse doubled die for the 1961 date, with the confirmed MDS observation providing a documented baseline for die condition comparison.

Die Markers

• UVC-155
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lyndon M. King, Jr.
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References