1963 Doubled Die Reverse DDR-005

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista with die markers UVC-215 and DMR-020, DDR-005 on the 1963 Franklin Half Dollar exhibits medium spread on HALF DOLLAR and AMERICA, light spread on E PLURIBUS (the dots between the words), and UNITED, with a distinctive triple spread visible on the A and F of HALF. Three die stages are documented: Stage A shows both the reverse and obverse in Early Die State; Stage B (MDS) and Stage C (LDS) remain unconfirmed. The triple spread on A and F of HALF — where three distinct hub impressions are detectable on these two letters — makes this variety diagnostically exceptional, as tripling is considerably less common than standard doubling and requires the die to have received at least three non-aligned hub impressions during manufacture. The contrast between triple spread on A and F versus medium spread on the broader HALF DOLLAR and AMERICA inscriptions suggests the tripling zone coincides with the region of maximum hub displacement, where three successive offset impressions each produced enough separation to remain individually distinguishable. John R. Sinnock's Franklin Half Dollar reverse features the Liberty Bell as the central device, flanked by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above and HALF DOLLAR below, with E PLURIBUS UNUM in smaller text — all elements affected to varying degrees by this DDR. The 1963 Franklin Half Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 90% silver at 12.50 grams with a 30.6 mm diameter — the final year of the series before its replacement by the Kennedy Half Dollar in 1964. The EDS designation for Stage A means the earliest documented examples show both dies in fresh condition. The tripled A and F are best examined under 10x magnification with oblique lighting.

Die Markers

• UVC-215
• DMR-020
• Stage A:
• Reverse and Obverse are EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Hugh T. Campbell
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References