1966 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-014

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team as 1966 50-cent SMS WDDO-014, this Kennedy half dollar from the Special Mint Set program displays a Class V clockwise spread from a pivot point at approximately 1 o'clock, affecting the LI of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE, and the date. Class V doubling results from the hub rotating slightly around a pivot point during the secondary impression, producing doubling that radiates from the pivot — strongest at the greatest distance from the rotation center and diminishing near it. This variety also exhibits the doubling characteristics from WWHO-001, a doubled working hub, making it a layered variety carrying both hub-level and die-level doubled impressions. Obverse die markers include a northwest-to-southeast die gouge below the right side of the R in TRUST and a short vertical die gouge to the left of the 9 in the date. The reverse carries die scratches running west from the U in UNITED and a die scratch running southwest from the bottom of the first S in STATES. The 1966 Kennedy half dollar was struck in 40% silver clad composition — an outer layer of 80% silver and 20% copper bonded to a core of 20.9% silver and 79.1% copper — weighing 11.5 grams with a diameter of 30.6 mm. Special Mint Set coins from 1965-1967 were produced at the Philadelphia Mint without mintmarks, carrying a finish quality between business strikes and proofs. Gilroy Roberts designed the Kennedy obverse and Frank Gasparro the heraldic eagle reverse.

Attribution History

• Discovered by William Albright Cross References: None known
• None known; Wexler Variety ID: 1966 50¢ SMS WDDO-014
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References