1973-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-001

Description

Light hub doubling on WE TRUST and the 73 of the date identifies this premier doubled die obverse for the 1973-S Kennedy Half Dollar, cataloged by VarietyVista. The S mintmark confirms this coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint, which in 1973 produced both proof and business-strike clad half dollars. Kennedy Half Dollars transitioned from 40% silver clad (1965-1970) to copper-nickel clad composition in 1971, and the 1973-S sits in the early years of this clad-and-proof era. Hub doubling on Kennedy Halves manifests distinctively on John F. Kennedy's portrait — particularly in the hair detail and surrounding inscriptions — because Gilroy Roberts' obverse design features bold, high-relief elements that reveal even minor hub misalignment. Die stage documentation records UVC-328, DMR-003, with Stage A at early die state (unconfirmed), Stage B showing both obverse and reverse at mid die state, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed). The DDO-001 designation marks this as the primary doubled die obverse for the date, likely representing the strongest doubling documented. Kennedy Half varieties from the early 1970s are actively sought by specialists who track the series from its 1964 inception through modern issues, and proof specimens from San Francisco receive particularly close scrutiny because their mirror-like fields make doubling easier to detect.

Die Markers

• UVC-328
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Richard Rybicki
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References