1966 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Second in the Wexler Team's catalog of 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar doubled die obverses (Wexler Variety ID 1966 50c WDDO-002), this variety follows only WDDO-001 in catalog precedence — typically indicating it was either the second variety discovered or the second in significance within the date's DDO family. The 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar DDO census, extending to nine or more documented varieties, represents one of the most prolific single-date doubled die concentrations in the half dollar denomination, rivaled only by a few other high-production years where the sheer volume of working dies manufactured statistically guaranteed multiple hub misalignment events. As WDDO-002, this variety carries its own unique hub displacement signature that distinguishes it from WDDO-001 in direction, magnitude, and affected design elements — requiring careful comparison of doubling characteristics and supplementary die markers for confident attribution. The Kennedy Half Dollar's 40% silver-clad composition at 11.5 grams places this firmly in the transitional silver era (1965-1970), with outer layers of 80% silver bonded to a silver-copper core. No mintmarks identify the production facility, following the 1965-1967 suspension. Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait of John F. Kennedy features the detailed hair treatment, ear, and profile that have made the Kennedy design a productive platform for variety discovery — the deeply carved parallel hair waves act as a natural gauge for hub displacement, as even slight offset produces detectable doubling between or alongside the primary wave impressions. The numismatic significance of the 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar extends beyond varieties: it represents a coin that was actively hoarded for its silver content, reducing circulated survival rates and concentrating surviving specimens in higher preservation grades.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1966 50¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References