1968-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-005

Description

Fifth in the reverse doubled die census for the 1968-S Kennedy half dollar proof, DDR-005 exhibits light triple spread on the stars beneath STATES OF AMERICA — the heraldic stars that surround the eagle on Frank Gasparro's reverse design for the Kennedy half dollar series. Triple spread indicates three distinct hub impressions that failed to align precisely, creating two secondary star images displaced from each primary star — a more complex doubling pattern than standard double spread. VarietyVista assigned die identifiers UVC-142 and DMR-009, documenting three die stages: Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C at late die state where a die gouge has developed next to the rim between the TE of STATES, and the obverse has also reached LDS. The comments note "Proof" and "RDV-002," confirming this die served in proof production and identifying the Reverse Design Variant. San Francisco struck proof Kennedy half dollars in 40% silver-clad composition for collector sets during this period, with the 1968-S marking the resumption of proof set production at San Francisco after the 1965-1967 hiatus when no proof sets were issued. The 1968-S proof set production totaled approximately 3.04 million sets. Light triple spread on the reverse stars — small five-pointed elements arranged in a semicircle beneath the inscription — creates a subtle but diagnosable pattern where each star shows faint duplicated outlines from the two displaced impressions. The Stage C die gouge between TE of STATES provides a late die state diagnostic, while the LDS condition of both dies at this stage indicates specimens struck near the end of the die pair's service life. Collectors should use 15-20x magnification on the stars below STATES OF AMERICA, checking for the triple impressions.

Die Markers

• UVC-142
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• Die gouge next to rim between TE of STATES – LDS
• Obverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Gary B. Shaffstall
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References