1972 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-001

Description

Holding the prestigious -001 designation as the primary Wexler doubled die obverse for the 1972 Kennedy Half Dollar, this variety carries an exceptional array of cross-references: Cherrypickers' Guide FS-50-1972-101, CONECA 1-O-II+V, and the Wexler catalog as 1972 50c WDDO-001. The attribution by the Wexler Team identifies strong Class V counterclockwise (CCW) spread visible on IN GOD WE TRUST (IGWT), the date, and LIBERTY — a spread pattern where the hub pivoted counterclockwise between impressions, creating doubling that fans outward from the pivot point. The CONECA designation 1-O-II+V indicates a compound classification combining Class II (distorted hub) and Class V (pivoted hub) characteristics, suggesting the doubling mechanism involved both hub distortion and pivot rotation. Reverse die markers include two strong northwest-to-southeast die scratches through the letters ER in AMERICA, while no obverse markers beyond the doubling have been noted. The multiple cross-references — Cherrypickers, CONECA, and Wexler — confirm this as one of the most widely recognized doubled die varieties on the 1972 Kennedy Half Dollar, documented across all major attribution services. The 1972 Kennedy Half Dollar was struck in copper-nickel clad composition at the Philadelphia Mint during a period when half dollar production was declining from its mid-1960s peak. The Cherrypickers' FS number (Fivaz-Stanton) indicates inclusion in the standard reference for collectors who search circulation and dealer inventories for undervalued die varieties, signaling that this variety carries sufficient collector demand and value to warrant active searching.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Not noted Cross References: Cherrypickers: FS-50-1972-101, CONECA: 1-O-II+V
• Cherrypickers: FS-50-1972-101, CONECA: 1-O-II+V; Wexler Variety ID: 1972 50¢ WDDO-001
• Expert attribution by Wexler Team

External References