1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-016

Description

Attributed by the Wexler Team with Variety ID 1971-S 50c Pr WDDO-016, this doubled die obverse was struck on a 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollar at the San Francisco Mint. The coin is composed of copper-nickel clad, weighing 11.34 grams with a 30.6 mm diameter, the first year this composition was used for proof Kennedy halves following the discontinuation of the 40% silver-clad format after 1970. Part of the Kennedy Half Dollars Clad and Silver Proof 1971 to Date series, this WDDO-016 variety is one of the many doubled die obverse varieties attributed on the prolific 1971-S proof date. Gilroy Roberts' obverse portrait of President Kennedy provides extensive fine detail in the hair, facial features, and surrounding inscriptions where hub doubling can manifest. The transition to clad composition in 1971 did not diminish the occurrence of doubled dies; if anything, the production techniques of this era, requiring multiple hub impressions to create working dies, ensured a steady supply of misaligned hub varieties. Proof coins from the San Francisco Mint were sold directly to collectors in proof sets, meaning most surviving examples are well preserved, making variety attribution considerably easier than on circulated business strikes where wear can obscure doubling characteristics. Collectors examining 1971-S proof Kennedy half dollars should systematically check the motto IN GOD WE TRUST, the date, and LIBERTY for signs of the secondary hub impressions that define doubled die obverse varieties.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S 50¢ Pr WDDO-016
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References