1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-016

Description

Falling in the middle range of the 1964 proof Kennedy Half Dollar DDO sequence, WDDO-016 bears the Wexler Team catalog reference 1964 50c Pr WDDO-016. Its placement at the sixteenth position within this date-mint combination underscores the prolific nature of hub doubling events across the 1964 proof die population at Philadelphia. Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait of President Kennedy — rendered with fine detail in the hair above the ear, the presidential tie, and the crisp serif lettering of LIBERTY — provides numerous diagnostic surfaces where even minor hub displacement can leave a readable secondary impression. The proof striking process, which typically involves multiple strikes from polished dies onto prepared planchets, amplifies the visibility of doubled die features compared to single-strike business issues. Philadelphia's 1964 proof production was massive: the Mint struck 3,950,762 proof sets that year, each containing the new Kennedy Half Dollar in 90% silver, and the sheer volume of dies required to meet that output created many opportunities for hub-to-die misalignment during the die manufacturing process. At 30.6 mm diameter and 12.5 grams of 90% silver, these proofs remain among the most collected modern U.S. coins, and varieties like WDDO-016 add an attribution layer that appeals to specialists who seek to document every distinct die in the series.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1964 50¢ Pr WDDO-016
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References