1963 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-017

Description

Light spread on the L and Y of LIBERTY, IN GOD, the 3 of the date, and ST of TRUST identifies this seventeenth doubled die obverse for the 1963 Philadelphia Mint Franklin Half Dollar, the final year of the series before the Kennedy Half Dollar replaced it in 1964. Attributed by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-221 and DMR-026, this variety progresses through three die stages: Stage A is Early Die State (unconfirmed), Stage B shows both obverse and reverse at Mid Die State, and Stage C reaches Late Die State (unconfirmed). The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar holds particular significance as the last year of John R. Sinnock's design — production was abruptly terminated after President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, and Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy portrait replaced it beginning in January 1964. Philadelphia struck approximately 22.1 million Franklin halves in 1963 before the changeover. Seventeen doubled die obverses for a final-year issue demonstrates the thoroughness of die variety research on this series, which has a dedicated following among half dollar collectors. The light spread across multiple design elements — spanning from LIBERTY through IN GOD to the date and TRUST — indicates a broad hubbing offset that affected the entire obverse inscription area rather than being concentrated in one zone.

Die Markers

• UVC-221
• DMR-026
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References