1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-005

Description

Holding the fifth position in the 1971-S proof Eisenhower Dollar DDO catalog, WDDO-005 (Wexler reference 1971-S $1 Pr WDDO-005) belongs to the inaugural year of a series that would span eight years of production before giving way to the Susan B. Anthony Dollar in 1979. Frank Gasparro designed both sides of the Eisenhower Dollar — an unusual distinction, as most U.S. coin designs feature different artists for obverse and reverse. His obverse portrait captures Eisenhower in the later years of his life, with pronounced forehead lines, a strong brow, and the mature features of a man who served as both Supreme Allied Commander in World War II and 34th President. These portrait details — particularly the fine parallel lines in the forehead and the textured hair above the ear — serve as sensitive indicators of hub doubling, because even slight displacement creates visible doubled contours in areas of closely spaced parallel engraving. At 38.1 mm diameter, the Eisenhower Dollar's die face is the largest in the regular U.S. coinage series, which means hub-to-die misalignment can produce measurable displacement even from angular deviations that would be imperceptible on a smaller die. The 40% silver proof composition and San Francisco mintmark confirm this as a collector issue rather than a circulation strike, with surfaces ideally suited for variety examination under magnification.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S $1 Pr WDDO-005
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References