1964-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-015

Description

Fifteenth in the obverse doubled die census for the 1964-D Kennedy half dollar, DDO-015 shows light spread on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the Y of LIBERTY across Gilroy Roberts's presidential portrait. VarietyVista documented this variety under UVC-412 and DMR-028, tracking three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B where two die scratches running north-south through the S of TRUST serve as mid die state markers with the reverse also at MDS, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The comments identify the reverse as RDV-002 (Flared G), a specific reverse design variant where the letter G in the reverse inscription displays a distinctive flared terminal — a die characteristic that provides an independent attribution checkpoint beyond the obverse doubling. Denver struck approximately 156.2 million Kennedy half dollars in 1964, the enormous first-year mintage driven by unprecedented public demand for the new design honoring the recently assassinated president. The 1964-D Kennedy half dollar was struck in 90% silver, the last regular-issue silver half dollar before the composition change to 40% silver in 1965, and the substantial weight and precious metal content of these coins ensured strong collector retention from the outset. The light spread classification means the doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and the Y of LIBERTY requires careful examination under 15-20x magnification to confirm. Collectors should first locate the Stage B die scratch diagnostic through the S of TRUST to verify the die identity, then examine the affected inscriptions for the characteristic secondary thickness that distinguishes hub doubling from strike doubling.

Die Markers

• UVC-412
• DMR-028
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Two die scratches North-South through S of TRUST – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by John Miller
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References