1970-S Doubled Die Reverse WDDR-005

Description

The final year of silver-clad proof Kennedy half dollars produced WDDR-005, a doubled die reverse attributed by the Wexler Team for the 1970-S issue. Cataloged under Wexler Variety ID 1970-S 50c Pr WDDR-005, this variety emerged from the proof die production at San Francisco, where 2,632,810 proof sets were assembled in 1970. The 1970-S proof half dollar holds a distinctive position in the Kennedy series as the last proof issue struck in the 40% silver-clad composition before the transition to copper-nickel clad for the 1971 proof sets. Frank Gasparro's heraldic eagle reverse — featuring the eagle grasping an olive branch and bundle of arrows, with E PLURIBUS UNUM inscribed on the flowing ribbon — provides the design canvas where this doubled die's spread becomes apparent. Hub doubling on proof dies can sometimes present differently than on business-strike dies because the chrome-plated, highly polished proof die surfaces may alter how the secondary impression registers during the hubbing process. The concentrated demand for 1970-S proof sets among both variety collectors and silver-content enthusiasts has kept this date-mint combination in steady numismatic focus, and the identification of multiple WDDR listings for the 1970-S confirms that reverse hub alignment proved challenging across several die pairs in that year's proof run. Collectors seeking WDDR-005 should examine the reverse legend, eagle feathers, and motto area under magnification, comparing spread direction and magnitude against the published diagnostics to distinguish this variety from the other cataloged 1970-S proof DDR entries.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1970-S 50¢ Pr WDDR-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References