1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-004

Description

Exhibiting light spread on the 2 of the date and LIBERTY, this fourth doubled die obverse for the 1962 Franklin Half Dollar captures a hubbing anomaly from the penultimate year of John R. Sinnock's Liberty Bell design. Die markers include UVC-258, DMR-006, with Stage A showing both obverse and reverse in Early Die State, Stage B at Mid Die State (unconfirmed), and Stage C at Late Die State (unconfirmed). The Franklin Half Dollar series ran from 1948 through 1963, ending when Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy Half Dollar design replaced it following President Kennedy's assassination. The 1962 Philadelphia Mint Franklin Half was produced in a proof mintage that gave collectors controlled examples for study, and business strikes were produced in quantities exceeding 12 million pieces. Light spread on the date and LIBERTY indicates a subtle but measurable displacement between hub impressions during die manufacturing — visible under magnification but not dramatic enough to be spotted without deliberate searching. The Franklin Half's obverse design, with its forward-facing portrait of Benjamin Franklin and prominent LIBERTY and date inscriptions, provided clear reference points for detecting and measuring hub doubling. Cataloged by VarietyVista, DDO-004 represents one of four documented doubled die obverse varieties for the 1962 date, contributing to the die variety record of a series that receives less attention than its Kennedy Half successor but offers substantial variety potential for specialists who examine these often-overlooked silver half dollars.

Die Markers

• UVC-258
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• Obverse and Reverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Dennis Fisher
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References