1959 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-004

Description

Fourth documented doubled die reverse for the 1959 Proof Franklin Half Dollar, DDR-004 shows extra thickness on the eagle’s left wing from hub doubling during the die-making process. Die markers are cataloged by VarietyVista as UVC-132 DMR-009 across three documented stages: Stage A with both reverse and obverse in early die state, Stage B at mid die state (unconfirmed) on both sides, and Stage C at late die state (unconfirmed) on both sides. A die gouge on the U of UNITED serves as the primary attribution marker, providing identification independent of the doubling itself. The 1959 Proof Franklin Half Dollar was struck in 90% silver at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the annual proof set, and represents the final year of the Franklin Half Dollar series before it was replaced by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964. John R. Sinnock’s eagle reverse, with its detailed wing feather rendering, displays hub doubling with clarity on the layered feather elements, where even slight displacement produces visible extra thickness along the feather edges. Doubled die varieties on terminal-year proof coinage carry added significance as final examples of their design type.

Die Markers

• UVC-132
• DMR-009
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Small die gouge on Left vertical of U of UNITED – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• Reverse and Obverse are LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Timothy Wissert
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References