1964 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-006

Description

Produced as a proof striking, this 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar DDO-006 exhibits an unusual light triple spread on WE TRUST and TY of LIBERTY combined with double spread on IN GOD, the date, and hair detail under the R of LIBERTY — a complexity that indicates multiple misaligned hub impressions during die manufacture. Triple spread, where three distinct images are visible rather than the more common two, occurs when the die receives at least three separate hub impressions with slightly different alignments, creating a layered effect that is diagnostically distinctive. VarietyVista catalogs this proof die with UVC-011 and DMR-011, and notes the die variety pairing as ODV-002/RDV-002, with the reverse distinguished by its "Flared G" characteristic — a diagnostic where the letter G in a reverse inscription shows distinctive spreading at its terminals. Three die stages are documented: Stage A with both obverse and reverse in early die state, Stage B with both sides progressing to mid-die state, and Stage C in late die state (unconfirmed). The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar occupies an iconic position in American numismatics as the first year of the series, introduced as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy following his assassination in November 1963. The proof issue was struck in 90% silver at the Philadelphia Mint, and doubled dies on this emotionally significant first-year proof carry heightened collector interest. The combination of proof surface quality with visible hub doubling creates dramatic visual contrast that makes these varieties particularly photogenic under proper lighting conditions.

Die Markers

• UVC-011
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References