1963 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

An extra lower vertical bar on the F of OF is the primary diagnostic for this 1963 Franklin Half Dollar doubled die reverse, representing a medium spread cataloged by VarietyVista under die markers UVC-214 and DMR-019. The die progressed through four stages: Stage A (EDS, unconfirmed), Stage B showing the reverse in early mid-die state with abrasion doubling developing under the nose and down the throat on the obverse (EMDS), Stage C showing a short die gouge in the upper C of AMERICA at MDS with the obverse also in MDS, and Stage D (LDS, unconfirmed). This variety can be found in Mint Sets, which provides collectors with a reliable source of well-preserved examples showing the doubling clearly. The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar was struck during the final year of the series — John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963 led to the rapid authorization of the Kennedy Half Dollar, which replaced the Franklin design beginning in 1964. John R. Sinnock's Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963) featured Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse, and the architectural details of the Bell design made doubled die varieties particularly visible. The F of OF doubling — creating what appears to be an extra vertical stroke — is the kind of specific letter-level anomaly that makes DDR varieties on Franklin Half Dollars attractive to both general collectors and variety specialists.

Die Markers

• UVC-214
• DMR-019
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is EMDS
• Abrasion doubling under nose and down throat – EMDS
• Stage C:
• Short die gouge in upper C of AMERICA – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage D:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dennis Fisher
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References