1965 Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-002

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team under Variety ID 1965 50c SMS WDDR-002, this 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar was struck as part of the Special Mint Set program that replaced standard proof sets during 1965-1967 while the U.S. Mint transitioned from silver to clad coinage. Obverse die markers include a die scratch running west-northwest from the top left of the R in LIBERTY to the rim. On the reverse, a short vertical die gouge can be found to the left of the U in UNITED, and a die gouge appears on the banner above the M in UNUM. The 1965 Kennedy Half Dollar occupies a unique position in American numismatics — it was the first year the composition changed from 90% silver to 40% silver-clad, and no standard proof coins were produced, making the Special Mint Set versions the highest-quality specimens available to collectors. SMS coins were struck on specially selected planchets with greater striking pressure than circulation issues, but without the multiple strikes and mirror-finish dies used for true proofs. Doubled die varieties on SMS coins are particularly collectible because of the limited production numbers relative to circulation strikes and the enhanced surface quality that makes doubling easier to detect. The 1965 SMS Kennedy Half Dollar had a production run of approximately 2.36 million sets, a small fraction of the 65.9 million circulation strikes from Philadelphia that year.

Attribution History

• s:; Wexler Variety ID: 1965 50¢ SMS WDDR-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References