1973-S Variety WMDR-001

Description

Cataloged under the specialized WMDR designation — Wexler Master Die Doubling Reverse — this 1973-S proof Kennedy Half Dollar variety preserves doubling that originated not in the working die but in the master die itself, meaning every working die produced from that master die would potentially carry the same doubled characteristics. Master die doubling occurs at an earlier stage in the die-making hierarchy than standard doubled dies: the master hub impresses the master die with a misalignment, and that error propagates through every subsequent generation of hubs and dies derived from it. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID 1973-S 50-cent Pr WMDR-001, this is the first documented master die doubling reverse for the 1973 proof half dollar. The 1973-S proof Kennedy Half Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint exclusively for inclusion in annual proof sets, using the copper-nickel clad composition that had replaced 40% silver for proof halves beginning in 1971. San Francisco's proof production resumed in 1968 after the three-year suspension, and proof Kennedy Half Dollars from the early 1970s represent the first clad-composition proof halves in the series. The WMDR classification is significant because it identifies the die-making stage where the doubling originated, providing researchers with information about the master die production process rather than just individual working die anomalies.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1973-S 50¢ Pr WMDR-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References