1973-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Primary doubled die reverse for the 1973-S Proof Kennedy Half Dollar, DDR-001 displays medium spread on the designer’s initials, arrow shafts and heads, and the heraldic eagle’s stars clockwise from the K-10 to K-7 clock positions, with lighter spread on STATES OF AMERICA and HALF DOLLAR. The range of affected elements — from fine details like the designer’s initials to the broader star field — indicates a doubling mechanism that displaced the entire reverse design. Die markers are cataloged as UVC-214 DMR-002 across three stages: Stage A with reverse and obverse in early die state, Stage B in mid die state (unconfirmed), and Stage C in late die state (unconfirmed). Attributed by VarietyVista, this proof variety was struck at the San Francisco Mint during a period of active proof set production. The DDR-001 designation marks this as the first and most prominent doubled die reverse for the date, typically indicating either the strongest doubling or the earliest discovery. Kennedy Half Dollar proof varieties from the early 1970s are actively collected, and DDR-001 status makes this the benchmark reverse doubled die for 1973-S.

Die Markers

• UVC-214
• DMR-002
• Stage A:
• Reverse and and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References