1946-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-002

Description

Spread toward the center visible on the sunrays, lower gown on the left side, right shoe, and the date, with extra thickness on IN GOD WE TRUST, makes this second DDO for the 1946-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar a variety with multiple attribution zones across Adolph Weinman's iconic obverse design. Die markers include a north-south die scratch between the letters I and N of IN, die scratches running north from the left wing of the W in WE on the obverse, and a light die crack on the bottom of the longest two right-side wing feathers on the reverse. Cross-referenced under Wexler Variety ID: 1946-S 50¢ WDDO-002 with no other known references, this variety was attributed by the Wexler Team. The Walking Liberty Half Dollar series ran from 1916 through 1947, and the 1946-S issue from the San Francisco Mint falls in the penultimate year of production. Weinman's design, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in American coinage, features Liberty striding toward the sunrise with flowing gown and extended arm, and the spread-toward-center doubling on these dynamic design elements creates subtle but distinctive thickening visible under careful examination. The reverse die crack on the wing feathers provides an additional confirming diagnostic.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kevin Flynn Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1946-S 50¢ WDDO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References