1966 Variety WWHO-002

Description

Strong doubling on the back of the neck and head, lower profile elements (neck, chin, lips), the back of the ear, hair details to the right of the upper ear, and the designer's initials identifies this 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar as WWHO-002 in the Wexler Working Hub Obverse catalog (Wexler Variety ID: 1966 50¢ WWHO-002). A close spread is also visible on IN GOD WE TRUST. The WWHO designation distinguishes working hub obverse doubling from working die obverse doubling: WWHO varieties originate in the hub that produced multiple working dies, meaning the doubling appears consistently across all dies from that hub, though die markers vary from die to die. The 1966 Kennedy half was struck in 40% silver for SMS (Special Mint Set) production, giving coins a satin-like surface rather than conventional proof or business strike texture. The clearest distinction between WWHO-002 and the related WWHO-001 is the hair detail to the right of the upper ear — present on WWHO-002, absent from WWHO-001. Collectors should examine this hair-adjacent area first when differentiating the two hub varieties, then confirm with the lower profile doubling on the chin and lips under magnification.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Various individuals Cross References: None known Comments: The quickest way to spot the difference between WWHO-001 and WWHO-002 is the hair details just to the right of the upper ear. On WWHO-001 these hair details show barely any doubling, but on WWHO-002 the doubling of these hair details is strong.
• None known Comments: The quickest way to spot the difference between WWHO-001 and WWHO-002 is the hair details just to the right of the upper ear. On WWHO-001 these hair details show barely any doubling, but on WWHO-002 the doubling of these hair details is strong.; Wexler Variety ID: 1966 50¢ WWHO-002
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References