1939-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Triple spreading on the upper edge of the flag — tripling, not merely doubling — is the headline feature of DDO-003 for the 1939-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar (90% silver), making this one of the more visually dramatic doubled die obverse varieties in the series. Light double spread is present on the date, and a medium rotational spread appears on IN GOD WE TRUST, the RTY of LIBERTY, and the leaves. The flag tripling places DDO-003 in a select group of Walking Liberty varieties showing three distinct impressions on a single design element. Catalogued UVC-154 and DMR-006, three die stages are documented: Stage A (early die state); Stage B (mid die state); Stage C (late die state), which carries a die crack through the date and a die crack running northeast from the rock to the feathers. The 1939-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar was struck in 90% silver — 90% silver, 10% copper — at the Denver Mint under Adolph A. Weinman's design. The tripling on the flag is the primary attribution element and is most clearly visible on earlier-die-state examples before surface detail is diminished by progressive die wear.

Die Markers

• UVC-154
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed
• Stage C:
• Die crack through date – LDS
• Die crack Northeast from rock to feathers – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Caleb Clough
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References