1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-015

Description

With Wexler Variety ID 1971-S 50c Pr WDDO-015, this doubled die obverse was attributed by the Wexler Team on the 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollar from the San Francisco Mint. The coin is a copper-nickel clad issue weighing 11.34 grams at 30.6 mm diameter, part of the Kennedy Half Dollars Clad and Silver Proof 1971 to Date series. The 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollar is notable in numismatic history as the first proof half dollar struck entirely in clad composition, a transition that reflected the ongoing evolution of American coinage away from precious metal content that had begun with the Coinage Act of 1965. The proliferation of doubled die varieties on this particular date is well documented, with WDDO-015 being one of at least sixteen obverse doubled dies cataloged by the Wexler Team alone. This phenomenon is attributed to the die manufacturing techniques of the era, which required multiple hub impressions to fully sink the design into each working die. Each impression presented an opportunity for slight misalignment, and the large number of dies required for annual proof set production meant that a statistically significant number of dies would exhibit detectable doubling. Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait of President Kennedy, with its detailed hair rendering and precisely positioned inscriptions, provides collectors with multiple reference points for detecting and characterizing doubled die effects, making the 1971-S proof half dollar a rewarding date for systematic variety searching.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-015
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References