1956 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-003

Description

Struck as a Type 1 proof at the Philadelphia Mint, DDO-003 on the 1956 Franklin Half Dollar exhibits medium spread on the 56 of the date and TRUST, with strong extra thickness on LIBERTY. Die markers are cataloged as UVC-092 and DMR-006. Three die stages are documented: Stage A in EDS (unconfirmed), Stage B showing a die chip on the upper leg of the 6 of the date in MDS with the reverse in MDS, and Stage C with a die chip off the back of the 9 of the date in LDS with the reverse in LDS. The reverse die is RDV-002. John R. Sinnock designed the Franklin Half Dollar, produced from 1948 through 1963, and the 1956 proof issue belongs to a period when Philadelphia was the sole proof production facility. The progression from EDS through LDS on this die is well documented through the die chip developments, providing collectors with clear stage identification markers that correlate die deterioration with the doubling attribution. Attributed by VarietyVista.

Die Markers

• UVC-092
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die chip on upper leg of 6 of date – MDS
• Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• Die chip off back of 9 of date – LDS
• Reverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Hugh T. Campbell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References