1963 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-001

Description

Listed in the Cherrypickers' Guide as FS-801, the 1963 Franklin Half Dollar DDR-001 is the flagship doubled die reverse for the series and can be found in Mint Sets. Doubling is medium in spread, concentrated on E PLURIBUS UNUM, the dots flanking the motto, UNITED, and HALF. Cataloged under UVC-211 and DMR-016, four die stages are documented. Stage A is early die state: a die scratch runs southeast from the first U of UNUM, and the obverse is also early die state. Stage B is early mid-die state: a new die scratch pattern replaced the Stage A scratch, and the obverse is also early mid-die state. Stage C is mid-die state: a die crack extends south from near the center of the eagle's left wing, and the obverse is confirmed mid-die state. Stage D is the terminal phase: the reverse is late die state, and a light die crack on the right bust line confirms the obverse is also late die state. The four-stage progression provides attribution anchors across the full die life. Struck in 90% silver, the 1963 Franklin Half Dollar bears the Sinnock-designed Liberty Bell reverse. The FS-801 Cherrypickers' listing elevates DDR-001 to premium variety status.

Die Markers

• UVC-211
• DMR-016
• Stage A:
• Die scratch Southeast from the first U of UNUM – EDS
• Obverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• New die scratch pattern without previous die scratch – EMDS
• Obverse is EMDS
• Stage C:
• Die crack South from near center of eagle's Left wing – MDS
• Obverse is MDS
• Stage D:
• Reverse is LDS
• Light die crack on Right bust line – LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ed Raser
• FS-801
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References