1963 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-026

Description

The 1963 Proof Franklin Half Dollar DDO-026 carries a medium spread on RTY of LIBERTY — three adjacent letters in the obverse motto showing displacement strong enough to evaluate with a loupe on well-struck proof surfaces. Die markers UVC-293 and DMR-044 provide VarietyVista cataloging identifiers. Three die stages are documented, with Stage A providing the confirming diagnostic: a die scratch running north-south through the hair below the I of LIBERTY, identifying Early Die State examples. Stages B and C are currently unconfirmed. The RTY zone of LIBERTY is a productive search area on Franklin Half Dollar obverses, as the tight letter grouping concentrates doubling evidence in a small field. The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar is historically significant as the final year of the series, struck from 1948 through 1963 before the Kennedy Half Dollar replaced it in 1964. Proof examples from the last year carry type significance as end-of-series pieces, and an attributed doubled die adds a variety dimension to that historical status.

Die Markers

• UVC-293
• DMR-044
• Stage A:
• Die scratch North-South in hair under I of LIBERTY – EDS
• Reverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References