1973-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Stars, rays, and HALF DOLLAR lettering all carry doubling on DDR-003 of the 1973 San Francisco Mint Proof Kennedy Half Dollar. Cataloged as UVC-538 and DMR-006, die stage progression documents three stages: Stage A represents an early die state with both sides showing fresh die characteristics. Stage B reaches mid-die-state. Stage C shows late die state with progressive deterioration on both obverse and reverse. The proof striking process, using polished dies and specially prepared planchets with multiple controlled impressions, renders the star and ray doubling with particular sharpness. The rays emanating from the heraldic eagle on the reverse, with their narrow geometric profiles, display hub displacement as parallel secondary lines adjacent to each primary ray. The HALF DOLLAR lettering doubling adds a denomination-area diagnostic to complement the peripheral star and central ray diagnostics. The 1973-S Proof Kennedy Half, struck in copper-nickel clad composition after the 40% silver proof era ended in 1970, documents this doubled die across three progressively deteriorating die stages.

Die Markers

• UVC-538
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• Reverse and and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Clough
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References