1964-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team and cross-referenced as CONECA 5-O-II and Cherrypickers FS-50-1964D-105 (013.6), this 1964-D Kennedy half dollar exhibits a strong Class II tripled spread towards the center on the RTY of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, the designer's initials, and the hair at the top and back of the head. Class II tripling — three distinct impressions from hub distortion — produces a layered effect that is particularly striking on Gilroy Roberts' high-relief Kennedy portrait, where the hair detail provides numerous fine parallel lines against which even subtle displacement becomes readily apparent. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running north-northwest to south-southeast just to the left of the lips, while the reverse carries a flanged G in the FG designer initials (Frank Gasparro) and a horizontal die gouge connecting the centers of the N and I in UNITED. The 1964-D Kennedy half dollar holds extraordinary historical and numismatic significance as the first year of the series, issued just months after President Kennedy's assassination, and the last regular-issue 90% silver half dollar. Struck at the Denver Mint in 90% silver and 10% copper at 12.5 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm, the 1964-D had a massive mintage of approximately 156.2 million pieces as the public eagerly sought the new design. The Cherrypickers value notation of 013.6 reflects the substantial premium this variety commands, and the strong tripled spread on major obverse elements makes WDDO-005 one of the most collectible Kennedy half dollar varieties from the inaugural year of the series.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Lou Coles Cross References: CONECA: 5-O-II, Cherrypickers: FS-50-1964D-105 (013.6)
• CONECA: 5-O-II, Cherrypickers: FS-50-1964D-105 (013.6); Wexler Variety ID: 1964-D 50¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References