1976-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Cataloged by the Wexler Team as 1976-S 50¢ 40% WDDO-001 and extensively cross-referenced as CONECA 1-O-V and Cherrypickers FS-50-1976S-101 (016), this 1976-S Bicentennial Kennedy Half Dollar in 40% silver composition exhibits doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST and the entire date — a broad distribution of hub displacement affecting major obverse inscriptions across Lincoln’s portrait field. Submitted by Timothy J. Wissert, the obverse die markers include a long die scratch from the nose running northwest to the rim intersected by a shorter scratch forming a close X pattern, a short die gouge protruding from the center left of the second 7 in 1776, a die scratch in the lower top of the Y in LIBERTY, and a small die dot at the left underside of the horizontal bar of T in LIBERTY. The CONECA Class I-O-V designation identifies this as Class V Pivoted Hub Doubling, where the secondary hub impression was rotated around a pivot point relative to the primary, creating doubling that increases in magnitude with distance from the pivot axis. The Cherrypickers listing (FS-50-1976S-101) confirms this as a significant variety actively searched by collectors. The 1976-S Bicentennial Half Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint in a special 40% silver clad composition (outer layers 80% silver/20% copper bonded to a 21.5% silver core) weighing 11.50 grams with a diameter of 30.61 mm. The dual-dated 1776–1976 obverse features Gilroy Roberts’ Kennedy portrait, while Seth Huntington’s Independence Hall reverse commemorated the nation’s 200th anniversary. The 40% silver composition was reserved for collector issues, distinguished from the standard copper-nickel clad circulation strikes of the same Bicentennial design.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Mark Clewell Cross References: CONECA: 1-O-V, Cherrypickers: FS-50-1976S-101 (016
• CONECA: 1-O-V, Cherrypickers: FS-50-1976S-101 (016; Wexler Variety ID: 1976-S 50¢ 40% WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References