1972-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-006

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-253 and DMR-009, this 1972-S Kennedy Half Dollar doubled die reverse from the Clad and Silver Proof series (1971 to date) has been documented across three die stages. Stage A represents the Early Die State, where both the reverse and obverse are confirmed in EDS condition — the earliest phase of the die's working life when surfaces are at their sharpest and free of deterioration features. Stage B advances to Mid Die State (unconfirmed), while Stage C reaches Late Die State (also unconfirmed), suggesting that documented specimens from the later production phases of this die are limited. The 1972-S Kennedy Half Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint, which during this period was transitioning its half dollar production between composition types. The standard 1972-S clad half dollar was struck in copper-nickel clad over a copper core, while the 1972-S proof was produced for annual proof sets. Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait of President John F. Kennedy, based on his presidential medal design, is paired with Frank Gasparro's adaptation of the Presidential Seal featuring a heraldic eagle on the reverse. The clad half dollar weighs 11.34 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm and a reeded edge, while the 40% silver version (1965-1970) had already been discontinued by 1972. As DDR-006, this variety holds the sixth documented doubled die reverse position for the 1972-S date. The confirmed Early Die State documentation in Stage A provides collectors with authentication criteria for the die's earliest and presumably sharpest production specimens, where hub doubling should be most clearly defined before any die wear softening occurs.

Die Markers

• UVC-253
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References