1955 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Attributed by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-086 and DMR-006, the 1955 DDR-002 Franklin Half Dollar exhibits medium spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM, accompanied by strong notched corners on most outer lettering and extra thickness on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The "notched corners" effect is a diagnostically distinctive form of doubling where the corners of individual letters show angular notching — small step-like offsets where the primary and secondary letter images diverge at corner points, creating a subtly jagged appearance on what should be smooth 90-degree or curved letter transitions. This notching effect tends to be most visible on letters with pronounced corners such as the E, T, A, and S in the outer legend, where the geometric intersection of straight letter strokes amplifies even small hub displacement into visible angular steps. Three die stages trace this die's service life: Stage A is early die state (unconfirmed); Stage B shows both reverse and obverse in mid-die state (MDS); Stage C is late die state (unconfirmed). The Franklin Half Dollar was designed by John R. Sinnock, featuring Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell with a small heraldic eagle on the reverse. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver composition, weighing 12.5 grams at 30.6 mm diameter. The 1955 Franklin Half Dollar holds the distinction of having one of the lower mintages in the series, making varieties from this date somewhat scarcer in absolute terms. The medium spread on E PLURIBUS UNUM provides the most accessible diagnostic starting point, while the notched corners on the outer lettering require careful examination of individual letter geometry under 10x magnification to appreciate the angular displacement pattern that distinguishes hub doubling from simple die wear thickening.

Die Markers

• UVC-086
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Unknown
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References