1963 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-015

Description

From the final year of the Franklin Half Dollar series, this 1963 Proof DDO-015 is listed by VarietyVista as UVC-219 and DMR-024 and carries added significance as a last-year variety. Strong spread appears on LIBERTY, on the 3 of the date, and on ST of TRUST, with medium-to-light doubling on IN GOD WE and TRU. The strong doubling on the 3 is particularly noteworthy, as date digit spread is among the most visually dramatic forms of hub doubling on any coin. John R. Sinnock's right-facing Franklin portrait, with LIBERTY arching above and IN GOD WE TRUST positioned to the left, provides multiple inscription zones where the varying degrees of spread can be compared. The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar was produced in both business strike and proof formats before being replaced by Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy Half Dollar design in 1964, following President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. Proof sets from 1963 were struck in large quantities, yet strong doubled die obverses from the series' swan song year remain actively pursued by Franklin specialists who recognize the historical finality that the 1963 date represents.

Die Markers

• UVC-219
• DMR-024
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References