1968-S Doubled Die Reverse DDR-006

Description

Medium spread affects the stars beneath UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the stars between the heraldic rays, and the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM on this 1968-S proof Kennedy Half Dollar, cataloged by VarietyVista as DDR-006 with die markers UVC-138 and DMR-005. This is a proof issue, as confirmed in the catalog comments, using Reverse Design Variant RDV-002. The die stage documentation is detailed: Stage A shows weak lettering on UNIT of UNITED in Early Die State with the obverse listed as DDO-003 also in EDS, Stage B presents both reverse and obverse in Mid Die State, and Stage C remains unconfirmed in Late Die State. The pairing with obverse DDO-003 makes this a "combo" variety carrying doubled die effects on both sides — a particularly desirable configuration for variety collectors. The Kennedy Half Dollar Silver Clad series (1965-1970) occupies a unique position in American numismatics as the transitional period between the original 90% silver composition of 1964 and the copper-nickel clad format adopted in 1971. The 1968-S proof contained 40% silver (80% silver outer layer over a 20.9% silver core), and San Francisco produced approximately 3.04 million proof halves that year. Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy obverse and Frank Gasparro's presidential seal reverse provided the design framework, and the heraldic stars and rays on the reverse created multiple diagnostic zones where hub doubling is detectable.

Die Markers

• UVC-138
• DMR-005
• Stage A:
• Weak lettering on UNIT of UNITED – EDS
• Obverse is LISTED as DDO-003 – EDS
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by James Wiles
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References