1963-D Doubled Die Obverse DDO-007

Description

Attributed by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-240 and DMR-008, this 1963-D Franklin Half Dollar obverse exhibits a light spread on LIBERTY. Stage B markers include a die crack on the bust east of designer's initials JS — the signature of John R. Sinnock, located on the truncation of Franklin's shoulder. The 1963-D holds special historical significance as the last Denver-mint Franklin Half Dollar ever produced. Midway through 1964, the Mint replaced the Franklin design with the Kennedy Half Dollar following President Kennedy's assassination, ending a sixteen-year run. Denver's 1963 production was among the final batches of Franklin halves struck at any facility. The light spread on LIBERTY, while subtle, documents a genuine hub doubling event during die manufacture. VarietyVista's die stage system tracks progressive deterioration, and the Stage B die crack near Sinnock's initials provides a reliable attribution marker. Franklin Half Dollar doubled dies from the series' closing years attract particular attention because the design's termination created a defined endpoint for variety research, and 1963-D represents Denver's final contribution to that body of work.

Die Markers

• UVC-240
• DMR-008
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Die crack on bust East of designer's initials – MDS
• Reverse is MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References