1969-D Doubled Die Reverse DDR-002

Description

Documented by VarietyVista with an exceptionally detailed multi-stage progression spanning six die stages and three different obverse die pairings, this 1969-D Kennedy Half Dollar DDR-002 displays medium spread on all letters around the rim, all stars, and the upper rays of the heraldic eagle — a comprehensive doubling pattern affecting virtually every peripheral and central reverse design element. The six die stages document this reverse die's extended service life: Stage A (UVC-479, DMR-018) at early die state, unconfirmed; Stage B with both reverse and obverse at mid-die-state; Stage C (UVC-146, DMR-004) at late-mid die state with an obverse die change to MDS and a split lower serif repunched mintmark; Stage D at late die state with a medium rim cud developing over the I of LIBERTY; Stage E (UVC-480, DMR-019) at late die state with another obverse die change to MDS; and Stage F at very late die state with the obverse also at LDS. The reverse die variety is identified as RDV-003/ODV-002a (MDO). Three different obverse die pairings across stages B, C/D, and E/F demonstrate how this single reverse die was rotated through multiple obverse partners during its production run, accumulating progressive damage including the rim cud at Stage D. The 1969-D Kennedy Half Dollar was struck at the Denver Mint in 40% silver-clad composition weighing 11.50 grams with a 30.6 mm diameter, designed by Gilroy Roberts (obverse) and Frank Gasparro (reverse). The split lower serif RPM at Stage C adds a repunched mintmark variety dimension to this already complex die history, and the progression from EDS through VLDS with three obverse die changes and the development of a rim cud provides one of the most thoroughly documented die life histories in the Kennedy Half Dollar variety catalog.

Die Markers

• UVC-479
• DMR-018
• Stage A:
• EDS (unconfirmed)
• Stage B:
• Reverse and Obverse are MDS
• UVC-146
• DMR-004
• Stage C:
• Reverse is LMDS
• Obverse die changed – MDS
• Split lower serif RPM
• Stage D:
• Reverse is LDS
• Medium rim Cud over the I of LIBERTY – LDS
• UVC-480
• DMR-019
• Stage E:
• Reverse is LDS
• Obverse die changed – MDS
• Stage F:
• Reverse is VLDS
• Obverse is LDS

Attribution History

• Discovered by Geoffrey Fults
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References