1971-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-005

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as DDO-005 with UVC-333 and DMR-018, this 1971-D Kennedy Half Dollar doubled die obverse displays a medium spread on LIBERTY and light spread on the date and IN GOD WE TRUST. The variety has been documented across three die stages: Stage A in EDS (Early Die State) which remains unconfirmed, Stage B in MDS (Mid Die State) showing die gouges between the bottom of the B and E of LIBERTY, and Stage C in LDS (Late Die State) also unconfirmed. The Stage B die markers — specifically the gouges between the lower portions of B and E in LIBERTY — serve as the most reliable attribution diagnostic for confirmed examples. The Kennedy Half Dollar was designed by Gilberto Proctor Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse), introduced in 1964 following President Kennedy's assassination. The 1971-D issue belongs to the clad era that began in 1971 for business-strike half dollars, struck in a copper-nickel clad composition (outer layers of 75% copper and 25% nickel bonded to a pure copper core), weighing 11.34 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm and a reeded edge. Denver Mint production of half dollars during this period was substantial, yet doubled die varieties represent individual die anomalies occurring during the hubbing process — a slight misalignment between successive hub impressions created the secondary design elements visible on struck coins. Attribution should begin by examining LIBERTY under 7x to 10x magnification with angled lighting, as the medium spread on this inscription is the most visible diagnostic, then confirming the lighter spread on the date and motto to distinguish DDO-005 from other 1971-D doubled die obverse listings.

Die Markers

• UVC-174
• DMR-007
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack rim to rim through upper Y of LIBERTY – LDS
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lee Rogers
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References