1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Frank Gasparro's reverse for the Kennedy Half Dollar — a heraldic eagle with shield and Presidential Seal motif — was paired from the coin's first striking with Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait. While the reverse has received dedicated study, it is the obverse dies that produced the documented DDO varieties for 1964 proof production, including WDDO-005, attributed in the Wexler Doubled Die Files under 1964 50¢ WDDO-005. Proof dies were produced at Philadelphia with polishing and controlled striking procedures, and the hubbing operations required to impart design from master hub to working die are the mechanism behind all doubled die varieties in this catalog. The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar was the final 90% silver half dollar struck for general collector distribution — the 1965 Coinage Act reduced silver content to 40% clad — giving the entire 1964 proof production run compositional significance beyond its first-year status. WDDO-005 is one of several independently cataloged doubled die obverse pairings from this single proof year, reflecting the number of working dies prepared to meet collector demand for proof sets when the new Kennedy design generated exceptional order volumes.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1964 50¢ WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References