1960 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-008

Description

Eighth in the Wexler-documented obverse doubled die census for the 1960 Franklin half dollar, WDDO-008 displays a strong spread towards the center on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date — a convergent spread pattern indicating the secondary hub impression was displaced inward relative to the primary on John R. Sinnock's obverse portrait of Benjamin Franklin. The Wexler Team cataloged this variety under Wexler Variety ID: 1960 50¢ Pr WDDO-008 and cross-referenced it with the Flynn attribution system as DDO-002, establishing connections across two major variety reference frameworks. The "Pr" designation in the Wexler ID confirms this as a proof variety, struck at Philadelphia (which retained proof production through 1964 before the transition to San Francisco). Philadelphia produced proof Franklin half dollars for inclusion in annual proof sets during the series' final years, as the Franklin design would be replaced by the Kennedy half dollar in 1964 following the president's assassination. The strong spread classification indicates clearly visible doubling that does not require extreme magnification to detect — the secondary hub impression is sufficiently displaced from the primary to produce distinct separation on the affected design elements. With three separate areas showing doubling — LIBERTY, the motto, and the date — the hub misalignment appears to have been substantial enough to affect design elements across a broad arc of the obverse. No significant obverse or reverse die markers were noted in the available documentation. Collectors should examine LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date numerals under 10-15x magnification, looking for inward-displaced secondary impressions characteristic of the center-directed spread pattern.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Kevin Flynn Cross References: Flynn: DDO-002
• Flynn: DDO-002; Wexler Variety ID: 1960 50¢ Pr WDDO-008
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References