1966 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-035

Error

Click to zoom

Verified LegacyDoubled Die Obverse

Attribution

Verified by

VarietyVista

Original Research

Learn more at varietyvista.com

Market Value

N/A

Rarity Index

N/A

Discovery Date

1966

Last Sold

N/A

Description

Thirty-fifth in the obverse doubled die census for the 1966 Kennedy half dollar, DDO-035 exhibits medium spread on the chin, lips, nose, and eye of Gilroy Roberts's Kennedy portrait, accompanied by a light spread on the word GOD in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-452 and DMR-042, and documented three die stages: Stage A where both obverse and reverse surfaces exhibit early die state characteristics, Stage B where both have progressed to mid die state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The 1966 Kennedy half dollar occupies a unique position in United States coinage — produced without a mintmark during the three-year period (1965-1967) when Congress suspended mintmarks in response to the nationwide coin shortage, and struck in 40% silver-clad composition rather than the 90% silver of 1964. The comments notation "BS" confirms this as a business strike, distinguishing it from the Special Mint Set (SMS) specimens also produced in 1966 from specially prepared dies. No proof coins were struck in 1966; SMS coins served as the collector-quality substitute during the mintmark suspension period. Medium spread on the facial features — chin, lips, nose, and eye — indicates a hub doubling event that displaced the secondary impression enough to create visible shadowing on these curved, detailed design elements, while the lighter spread on GOD suggests the displacement diminished across the die face from the portrait region to the motto area. Collectors should examine the Kennedy profile under 10-15x magnification, paying particular attention to the lip contour and nostril where medium spread produces the most readily visible secondary impressions against the smoothly curved surfaces.