1960 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-003

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1960 50-cent Proof WDDO-003, this Franklin half dollar proof variety displays two layers of doubling: a spread towards the center on LIBERTY, the date, and TRUST from the working die, plus quadrupling spread towards the center on LIBERTY from the doubled working hub — making this a variety where both hub-level and die-level doubling combine to produce an exceptionally complex layered effect on the key obverse inscription. Obverse die markers include a weak die scratch curving to the northeast from the top of the zero in the date and a die gouge on the bottom left of the 6 in the date. The reverse carries a small die gouge to the right of the bottom of the I in AMERICA. The Franklin half dollar was designed by John R. Sinnock, featuring Benjamin Franklin's portrait on the obverse and the Liberty Bell on the reverse, struck in 90% silver and 10% copper at 12.5 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm. The 1960 proof issue was produced at the Philadelphia Mint with a proof mintage of approximately 1.69 million pieces. The combination of die-level doubling on LIBERTY, date, and TRUST with hub-level quadrupling on LIBERTY creates a diagnostic hierarchy where LIBERTY shows the most complex layered doubling, while the date and TRUST show only the die-level component. This differentiation between hub and die doubling on the same coin provides a valuable educational example for collectors learning to distinguish between these two distinct mechanisms of design multiplication.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 50¢ Pr WDDO-003
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References