1948 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-003

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-003 with die marriage DMR-003, the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar DDR-003 displays light spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots separating the motto words, and UNITED on the reverse of the inaugural year of John R. Sinnock's Franklin Half Dollar design. This variety is a confirmed dual variety: the obverse die is identified as DDO-002, meaning both sides of coins from this die marriage carry doubled die characteristics. Three die states are documented — early die state remains unconfirmed, mid die state shows the reverse in MDS paired with the DDO-002 obverse, and late die state exhibits advanced deterioration on both sides. First-year die varieties from the 1948 Franklin Half Dollar hold particular interest because they document the initial production challenges of a brand-new design, when dies and hub technology were being adapted to Sinnock's portrait and Liberty Bell motifs. The dual DDO/DDR die marriage makes this a coin where both sides reward careful examination under magnification, with the reverse dots between E PLURIBUS UNUM providing especially clear reference points for detecting the light spread.

Die Markers

• UVC-003
• DMR-003
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse is MDS
• Obverse is LISTED as DDO-002 – MDS
• Stage C:
• Obverse and Reverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ed Raser
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References