1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Third in the 1971-S proof Eisenhower Dollar DDO catalog, WDDO-003 (Wexler reference 1971-S $1 Pr WDDO-003) occupies an early position that typically correlates with either early discovery or notable visual prominence. The Eisenhower Dollar debuted in 1971 to satisfy both the practical need for a dollar coin in commerce and the sentimental desire to honor the recently deceased president and five-star general (Eisenhower passed away on March 28, 1969). Frank Gasparro won the design commission and created a portrait that captured Eisenhower's likeness with documentary precision — the broad forehead, strong nose, and slightly receding hairline are rendered with fine engraving lines that serve as excellent diagnostic surfaces for doubled die attribution. The San Francisco proof version in 40% silver was positioned as a premium collector product, sold at a markup to fund the Mint's operations, and the careful production standards for proof coins meant that dies were inspected more frequently than business-strike dies, potentially catching some doubled dies before they entered service — which raises the interesting question of whether the documented DDO population represents the full extent of misaligned dies produced, or only those that survived quality control screening. At 24.59 grams and 38.1 mm, the silver proof Ike is a substantial coin, and WDDO-003 preserves on its obverse the record of one specific hub-to-die misalignment event from the series' opening production campaign.

Attribution History

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

External References