1961 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with Universal Variety Code UVC-158 and Die Marriage Record DMR-006, the 1961 Franklin Half Dollar DDO-004 exhibits medium spread on the 61 of the date and on TRUST. The selective doubling on specific design elements — the last two digits of the date and the motto word — while other obverse features remain unaffected indicates a hub displacement that concentrated its effect in the lower and central portions of the obverse die face. Die stage documentation tracks three phases with particularly detailed Stage B observations: Stage A at Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B at Mid Die State where die chips develop on the G of GOD, the W of WE, and the last T of TRUST while the reverse remains in Early Die State, and Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed). The contrast between the obverse at MDS with die chips and the reverse still in EDS at Stage B reveals asymmetric die wear — the obverse die was deteriorating significantly faster than its reverse partner, possibly due to differences in die hardness, design relief, or striking pressure distribution. The 1961 Franklin Half Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver at 12.5 grams and 30.6 mm diameter. John R. Sinnock's obverse portrait of Benjamin Franklin, first introduced in 1948, features the Founding Father facing right with LIBERTY above and IN GOD WE TRUST below — the latter inscription being one of the two zones where this variety's medium spread is most readily identified. As the fourth DDO for the 1961 Franklin date, DDO-004 represents a mid-sequence variety within a modest but actively collected family of proof doubled die varieties for this penultimate-year Franklin issue.

Die Markers

• UVC-158
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die chips on G of GOD, W of WE, and last T of TRUST – MDS
• Reverse is EDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Hiemke
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References