1971 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

The third cataloged doubled die obverse for the 1971 Eisenhower dollar, WDDO-003 was attributed by the Wexler Team and assigned the reference 1971 $1 WDDO-003. Like its companion WDDO-001 and WDDO-002 for the same date, this variety resulted from misalignment during the multi-impression hubbing process used to create the obverse working die. No cross-references in the CONECA or Fivaz-Stanton systems have been recorded for this particular die, suggesting it remains primarily documented in the Wexler files. The 1971 Eisenhower dollar was the first dollar coin struck for general circulation since the Peace dollar series ended in 1935, reviving a denomination that had been absent from American pockets for 36 years. Frank Gasparro designed both sides, placing his Eisenhower portrait on the obverse and adapting the Apollo 11 mission patch for the reverse eagle-and-moon design. Philadelphia produced 47.8 million copper-nickel clad examples that year, and the large 38.1mm diameter of the planchet makes doubled die varieties on Eisenhower dollars particularly interesting to examine. Hub doubling on a coin this size can spread across a substantial area of the die face, and collectors using a standard 5x loupe can often spot the doubled elements without difficulty. WDDO-003's specific characteristics should be compared against the more prominent WDDO-001 to ensure correct attribution, as the 1971 date generated enough DDO interest to warrant multiple listings. Authentication services familiar with Eisenhower dollar varieties can confirm attribution for higher-value specimens.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971 $1 WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References