1964 Proof Kennedy Half Dollar - Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-025

Description

Positioned twenty-fifth in the Wexler catalog of 1964 proof Kennedy Half Dollar doubled die obverses, WDDO-025 (reference: 1964 50c Pr WDDO-025) belongs to what is arguably the most densely populated single-year DDO family in the modern U.S. series. The 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar arrived at a moment of intense national sentiment following the assassination of President Kennedy, and the public demand for both business strikes and proof coins pushed Philadelphia's die shop into sustained high-volume production throughout the year. Gilroy Roberts' left-facing bust of Kennedy, adapted from the 1961 presidential inaugural medal, features tightly spaced hair strands above the ear, precise serif lettering in LIBERTY, and the delicate curves of the presidential seal just visible at the neckline truncation — all elements where hub misalignment registers as doubled contours or thickened letter strokes. Each proof was struck on a specially polished 90% silver planchet weighing 12.5 grams and measuring 30.6 mm in diameter, with the mirror-finish fields creating a high-contrast background that makes even subtle doubling easier to detect than on a satin or frosty business strike surface. Identifying WDDO-025 among its numerous siblings requires careful attention to the specific direction, magnitude, and distribution of spread across the obverse design, often necessitating side-by-side comparison with known attributed specimens.

Cross References

• Wexler Variety ID: 1964 50¢ Pr WDDO-025

External References