1963 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-013

Description

Unlike the proof-only DDO-003 sharing similar spread characteristics, this 1963 Franklin Half Dollar DDO-013 appears on a regular strike — making it accessible to collectors who search circulated and mint-state business-strike rolls rather than proof sets. The variety exhibits medium spread on LIBERTY and light spread on IN GOD, mirroring the same inscription targets as DDO-003 but originating from a completely different working die, confirmed by distinct catalog codes UVC-210 and DMR-015. Three die stages trace this die's production life. Stage A at early die state remains unconfirmed. Stage B confirms both the obverse and reverse in mid-die state, establishing the primary documented production window. Stage C at late die state is also unconfirmed. The higher DMR number (015 versus DDO-003's 005) indicates this die was produced later in the die manufacturing sequence for 1963 business-strike Franklin Halves. As a regular-strike 90% silver half dollar from the final year of the Franklin series, DDO-013 demonstrates that the same doubling pattern — medium LIBERTY, light IN GOD — could occur independently on multiple dies. Cataloged by VarietyVista, this Philadelphia Mint issue rewards examination of the same diagnostic zones as its proof counterpart but on satin-finish business-strike surfaces.

Die Markers

• UVC-210
• DMR-015
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Joe Feld
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References