1956 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-009

Description

The 1956 Proof Franklin Half Dollar DDO-009, catalogued by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-102 and DMR-016, is a doubled die obverse variety on a mirrored-field proof coin. John R. Sinnock's Franklin Half Dollar design, struck in 90% silver, was produced with specially prepared proof dies, making doubled die varieties on proof issues both rare in occurrence and visually distinctive when doubling interacts with the reflective surface. The doubling shows as strong extra thickness on LIBERTY and the date, with additional thickness on TRUST. Three die stages are documented. Stage A (Early Die State) is unconfirmed. Stage B (Middle Die State) is confirmed by a die gouge on the inner loop tip of the 9 in the date, a die gouge on the upper loop tip of the 5, and the reverse advancing to MDS. Stage C (Late Die State) brings a die break above the E of LIBERTY, with the reverse also reaching LDS. The Stage B die gouges on individual date digits provide specific confirmation markers usable even on lower-grade examples. The die break above LIBERTY by Stage C reflects significant degradation for a proof die.

Die Markers

• UVC-102
• DMR-016
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die gouge on inner loop tip of the 9 of date – MDS
• Die gouge on upper loop tip of the 5 of the date
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Die break above E of LIBERTY – LDS
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References