1966 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-033

Description

Struck as a business strike at Philadelphia, DDO-033 is a doubled die obverse on the 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar showing light spread across WE TRUST, the date, the RTY of LIBERTY, and the hair at the back of Kennedy's head. Cataloged by VarietyVista with cross-references UVC-415 and DMR-040, this variety has been tracked across three die stages documenting its progression from fresh to worn. Stage A is identified by two diagnostic markers — a die gouge below the eye on the obverse and a die chip on the upper O of DOLLAR on the reverse — with both sides exhibiting early die state characteristics. Stages B and C represent mid-die-state and late die state conditions, though neither has been confirmed. The 1966 Kennedy Half Dollar was produced without a mintmark at Philadelphia during the three-year period when the Mint eliminated mintmarks to discourage hoarding. This date was struck in the 40% silver clad composition introduced in 1965 as a compromise between the original 90% silver and the full copper-nickel clad that would follow in 1971.

Die Markers

• UVC-415
• DMR-040
• Stage A:
• Horizontal die gouge below eye – EDS
• Die chip on upper O of DOLLAR – EDS
• Stage B:
• MDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Ken Glickman
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References