1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-014

Description

Identified by the Wexler Team as 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-014, this doubled die obverse represents one of the higher-numbered varieties in the extensive catalog of hub doubling found on 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollars. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, this coin exhibits the standard copper-nickel clad proof specifications: 11.34 grams, 30.6 mm diameter, with polished planchets and specially prepared dies delivering the mirror fields and frosted devices prized by collectors. The existence of at least fourteen distinct doubled die obverse varieties for this single date underscores the 1971-S proof half dollar's status as one of the most variety-rich coins in modern U.S. numismatics. Each variety stems from a different working die that received a misaligned hubbing, and since San Francisco used multiple die pairs during the production run of 3,220,733 proof sets, the opportunity for multiple hub doubling events was substantial. Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy portrait provides extensive surface area for doubling detection, from the fine hair strands above the ear to the bold LIBERTY across the top and the date at the lower right. The proof striking method, which typically involves at least two impressions per coin, creates the crisp device edges that make doubled die characteristics most visible. As WDDO-014, this variety may exhibit more subtle doubling than the earlier-numbered varieties for this date, requiring careful magnified examination against the Wexler reference specifications to distinguish it from neighboring varieties and from the normal proof finish.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-014
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References