1966 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-012

Description

Struck during the Special Mint Set era when the U.S. Mint suspended regular proof production from 1965 through 1967, this Kennedy Half Dollar DDO-012 displays medium spread on the hair detail beneath the R of LIBERTY along with light spread across RTY of LIBERTY. Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-086 with die marriage DMR-014, the variety has been documented across three die states: Stage A shows both obverse and reverse in early die state, Stage B progresses to mid die state, and a Stage C in late die state remains unconfirmed. The 1966 SMS coins occupy a unique niche in numismatic history — better than business strikes but distinct from the proof finish that preceded them, they were produced on specially prepared planchets with enhanced die polishing. Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse portrait of President Kennedy, introduced just a year after the assassination, while Frank Gasparro created the heraldic eagle reverse. Struck on 40% silver-clad composition at 30.6mm — the Kennedy Half Dollar retained silver content through 1970 even as dimes and quarters transitioned to copper-nickel clad in 1965. Look beneath LIBERTY's R for the hair doubling that defines this SMS-era variety.

Die Markers

• UVC-086
• DMR-014
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Hugh T. Campbell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References