1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Appearing on the inaugural year of the large-format dollar series that ended a thirty-six-year gap in American dollar coin production, this 1971-S Silver Eisenhower Dollar carries a doubled die obverse cataloged by the Wexler Team as WDDO-009. The 1971-S silver version was struck in 40% silver clad composition exclusively for collectors, distinguishing it from the copper-nickel clad business strikes produced at Philadelphia and Denver. Hub misalignment during die manufacture created visible doubling on the obverse design elements featuring Dwight D. Eisenhower's profile, rendered by designer Frank Gasparro. The Eisenhower Dollar series ran from 1971 through 1978, and the 40% silver San Francisco issues were sold at a premium in blue-packaged uncirculated sets and brown-packaged proof sets, making them primarily collector coins from the outset. WDDO-009 is one of multiple doubled die obverses documented for the first-year silver Ike, and collectors should examine the obverse legends and portrait details under magnification to identify the diagnostic spread that characterizes this particular die pair.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S $1 40% WDDO-009
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References