1969-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

First in the sequence of three cataloged doubled die obverses for the 1969-D Kennedy Half Dollar, WDDO-001 documents a hubbing error on a Denver Mint issue from the final years of silver clad composition. The 1969-D was struck in 40% silver clad, the penultimate year of this transitional composition before silver was eliminated from circulating half dollars in 1971. Gilroy Roberts designed the obverse portrait, while Frank Gasparro created the heraldic eagle reverse derived from the Presidential Seal. That three distinct doubled die obverses have been cataloged for the 1969-D suggests the die production process at Denver generated multiple instances of hub misalignment. The large 30.6mm half dollar diameter required substantial pressure and multiple hubbing impressions to fully sink the design, increasing the chance of positional shifts between impressions. Cross-referenced as Wexler Variety ID: 1969-D 50c WDDO-001. Kennedy Half Dollars from 1965 through 1970 occupy a unique niche as the last circulating coins to contain silver, and their variety landscape continues to attract specialists.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1969-D 50¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References