1966 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-009

Description

Bearing the VarietyVista designation UVC-083 and DMR-011, this ninth doubled die obverse for the 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar emerged from a Special Mint Set (SMS) production run — the distinctive coin format that replaced proof sets during the 1965-1967 coinage transition period. The doubling presents as light spread on Kennedy's profile, eye, ear, and designer's initials (the "GR" of Gilroy Roberts), with very light spread additionally visible on IN GOD WE TRUST. The light intensity suggests a minor hub shift, but the anatomical precision of the affected areas — the eye and ear particularly — makes this variety diagnostically interesting despite its subtlety. Stage A die markers include a die scratch running south from the middle of the nostril at Early Die State with the reverse also at EDS, Stage B places both obverse and reverse at Mid-Die State, and Stage C at Late Die State remains unconfirmed. The 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar was struck in 40% silver clad composition — reduced from the 90% silver of the 1964 original due to the nationwide coin shortage — and SMS coins received a distinctive satin-like finish that differs from both business strikes and traditional proofs. Special Mint Set production occurred only at San Francisco during these three transitional years, making SMS doubled dies a specialized collecting niche within the broader Kennedy Half Dollar variety market. DDO-009 demonstrates that the multiple-impression hubbing process used during SMS die preparation was subject to the same alignment variations that produced doubled dies in regular production.

Die Markers

• UVC-083
• DMR-011
• Stage A:
• Die scratch South from middle of nostril – EDS
• Reverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References