1971-D Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Submitted by Bill Fivaz — co-author of the Cherrypickers' Guide, the foundational reference for U.S. die varieties — this counterclockwise Class I spread on the 1971-D Kennedy Half Dollar affects LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, the upper hair details, and the date. Class I hub doubling results from a rotational shift of the hub relative to the die between impressions, and the CCW direction means design elements were displaced in a counterclockwise arc from their intended positions. The 1971-D half dollar was the first Denver Mint Kennedy issue in the copper-nickel clad composition, following the 1970-D which was the last 40% silver clad issue, making this a transitional-era variety. Obverse die markers include a light vertical die scratch in front of the eye and a NW/SE die scratch to the left of the B in LIBERTY, while the reverse shows no significant markers. Cataloged by the Wexler Team under Wexler Variety ID: 1971-D 50¢ WDDO-001 with no additional cross-references known, the DDO-001 designation establishes this as the primary doubled die obverse for the date, carrying the prestige of first-catalog priority in the variety numbering sequence.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-D 50¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References