1965 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-067 with die marker reference DMR-007, this 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar from the Special Mint Set exhibits a light spread on WE TRUST, the date, the designer's initials, and the Y of LIBERTY. Special Mint Sets replaced standard proof sets during 1965-1967 as part of the United States Mint's response to the nationwide coin shortage, producing coins with a finish quality between business strike and proof — neither fully mirrored nor standard luster. Three die stages documented: Stage A in Early Die State with light die scratches running north-south on both obverse and reverse, Stage B in Mid Die State (unconfirmed), and Stage C with obverse and reverse in Late Die State. The 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar retains 40% silver composition — reduced from the 90% of 1964 but not yet the copper-nickel clad adopted in 1971. SMS coins were sold directly to collectors through the Mint, limiting their distribution compared to circulation strikes. DDO-005 on an SMS coin combines die variety interest with the distinctive strike characteristics unique to this three-year experimental production method.

Die Markers

• UVC-067
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• Light die scratches North-South on Obverse – EDS
• Light die scratches North-South on Reverse – EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References