1971-S Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-010

Description

Cataloged as Wexler Variety ID 1971-S $1 Pr WDDO-010, this doubled die obverse is the tenth documented DDO for the 1971-S proof silver Eisenhower Dollar. The Eisenhower Dollar debuted in 1971 as the first dollar coin produced since the Peace Dollar series ended in 1935, and the San Francisco Mint struck both 40% silver proof and uncirculated collector versions alongside Philadelphia's and Denver's copper-nickel clad business strikes. Frank Gasparro's obverse design portrays Dwight D. Eisenhower in left-facing profile, with LIBERTY arcing across the top and the date and mintmark at the bottom — a layout that places key attribution zones at opposite poles of the coin's 38.1 mm diameter. On a coin this large, hub doubling events can produce spread that varies measurably between the upper and lower portions of the design, because the angular displacement at the hub's contact surface translates into different linear offsets depending on radial distance from the pivot point. Ten distinct DDO varieties from the first year of production suggests the San Francisco die shop was still refining its procedures for manufacturing dies on this new, large-format denomination. The 40% silver composition gives the 1971-S proof Ike a distinctive ring and luster compared to the copper-nickel clad issues, and its collector base values attributed varieties as meaningful documentation of the series' formative production year.

Attribution History

• Wexler Variety ID: 1971-S $1 Pr WDDO-010
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References