1949 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-004

Description

Fourth in the Wexler-documented obverse doubled die census for the 1949 Franklin half dollar, WDDO-004 exhibits a very close spread towards the center on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST — the two primary obverse inscriptions on John R. Sinnock's design that flanked Benjamin Franklin's portrait. The center-directed spread indicates the secondary hub impression was displaced slightly inward toward the design's central axis, compressing the inscriptions toward the portrait rather than spreading them outward. Philadelphia struck approximately 5.61 million Franklin half dollars in 1949, a date that sees moderate collector interest within a series that has grown in popularity as variety awareness has expanded. Obverse die markers include a short vertical die gouge to the left of the top of the Y in LIBERTY — a distinctive defect that serves as the primary fingerprint for identifying this specific working die. On the reverse, a small die gouge appears on the upper right of the D in UNITED, providing an independent secondary checkpoint. The Wexler Team cataloged this as Wexler Variety ID: 1949 50-cent WDDO-004, with no additional cross-references currently known from other attribution services. The very close spread classification indicates the primary and secondary hub impressions are nearly superimposed, producing barely perceptible thickening in the letter strokes that requires patient examination under 20x or greater magnification with carefully controlled lighting. Collectors should first verify the obverse die by locating the vertical gouge near the Y in LIBERTY, then methodically examine each letter of LIBERTY and IGWT for the subtle center-directed thickening that characterizes this variety.

Attribution History

• Discovered by John A. Wexler Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1949 50¢ WDDO-004
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References