1968-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Cataloged by VarietyVista for the 1968 Denver Mint Kennedy Half Dollar, DDR-002 displays medium spread on the stars under and letters of STATES OF AMERICA, with die markers UVC-129 and DMR-006 tracking four die states. Early die state is unconfirmed. In mid-die state, light die scratches running north-south appear on both reverse and obverse — parallel patterns on both dies suggest a common cause, possibly simultaneous die maintenance. By the next stage, a light die crack extends from the tail feathers to the rim west of D in DOLLAR, and the obverse advances to late-mid state. Late die state is unconfirmed. The 1968-D Kennedy Half Dollar was the first year business-strike halves were produced in copper-nickel clad, following the 40% silver composition used from 1965 through 1970. Medium spread on the reverse legend provides enough displacement for identification with moderate magnification. Four die states across this die pair's life give researchers a window into how the die surface evolved from fresh to terminal condition during Denver's press runs.

Die Markers

• UVC-129
• DMR-006
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Light die scratches North-South on Reverse – MDS
• Light die scratches North-South on Obverse – MDS
• Stage C:
• Light
• die crack from tail feathers to rim West of the D of DOLLAR
• Obverse is LMDS
• Stage D:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Frank Baumann
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References