1971-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-013

Description

Thirteenth in the obverse doubled die census for the 1971-S Kennedy half dollar proof, DDO-013 exhibits light spread on the final digit 1 of the date, on TRUST, and on TY of LIBERTY — three diagnostic areas that collectively provide multiple verification points for this proof-only variety. VarietyVista documented the variety under UVC-193 and DMR-015, noting a distinctive diagonal die gouge positioned south of the upper T of LIBERTY as a key secondary marker. The comments section records three important details: three die stages have been documented, the coin is a proof issue, and the obverse die employs Obverse Design Variant ODV-002. San Francisco struck proof Kennedy half dollars in 40% silver-clad composition from 1968 through 1970, switching to copper-nickel clad proofs beginning in 1971 — making this variety part of the first year of base-metal proof half dollar production. Gilroy Roberts' Kennedy obverse portrait, introduced in 1964 as a memorial to the assassinated president, provides a detailed design surface where even light hub doubling can be detected on the fine lettering and date numerals. The light spread designation indicates the doubling is subtle — visible under magnification but not dramatically separated — requiring careful comparison against normal specimens to confirm the displaced secondary impression. The diagonal die gouge south of the upper T of LIBERTY serves as the most efficient identification shortcut: locating this marker under 10x magnification confirms the correct working die before the more demanding task of verifying the light doubling on the date and inscriptions. The ODV-002 designation places this die within a specific obverse hub variant classification, providing an additional cross-check for researchers building complete die emission sequences.

Die Markers

• UVC-193
• DMR-015
• Stage A:
• Diagonal die gouge South of upper T of LIBERTY – EDS
• Reverse is EDS
• Stage B:
• Obverse and Reverse are MDS
• Stage C:
• LDS (unconfirmed)

Attribution History

• Discovered by Bill Fivaz
• Expert attribution by VarietyVista

External References