1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-007

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-007, this doubled die obverse variety appears on the 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollar struck at the San Francisco Mint. The 1971-S proof half dollar is composed of a copper-nickel clad composition with 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. As a proof issue, this coin was struck on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing the mirror-like fields and frosted design elements characteristic of San Francisco proof production. The doubled die obverse classification indicates that a misalignment occurred during the die hubbing process, where the hub that transfers the design to the working die was not perfectly aligned between successive impressions, creating visible doubling on obverse design elements. The 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollar is part of the Kennedy Half Dollars Clad and Silver Proof 1971 to Date series, which began after the transition from the 40% silver composition used for business strikes from 1965 to 1970. Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse portrait of President John F. Kennedy, while Frank Gasparro created the heraldic eagle reverse. Collectors seeking this variety should examine the obverse legends and portrait details under at least 5x magnification to identify the specific doubling diagnostics that distinguish WDDO-007 from the numerous other doubled die obverse varieties known for this date.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-007
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References