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Was the 1969-S strong DDO Lincoln cent a deliberate error by profiteering mint employees?
oldcameoproofsguy
Posts: 3,174 ✭
When this error was discovered the Secret Service would confiscate the coins. If the Secret Service becomes involved would it mean that there might have been some foul play involved? A mint employee could produce a strong double die coin for a motive of profit, make a couple of examples and put a few into circulation to be found later becoming a man made rarity.
When does the government decide that it is OK to have private ownership of such a coin? Is this a case where if I purchased one of these coins would I want to keep my ownership secret for fear of having it confiscated or worse for being indicted for owning contraban?
When does the government decide that it is OK to have private ownership of such a coin? Is this a case where if I purchased one of these coins would I want to keep my ownership secret for fear of having it confiscated or worse for being indicted for owning contraban?
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It is in fact a variety coin in which the design is different than the normal design. The coin, as produced, did not occur at the minting/striking level of the blank planchet but WAY before when the die was created. if foul play was involved in the creation of the working die would be impossible to prove either way.
This is my understanding of the facts........
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns
been destroying when the real '69-S DDO's were discovered. Initially it was
believed that these were more counterfeits and a few real coins were also de-
stroyed. The owners never recieved any restitution for their coins. It is now
suspected that the other DDO cents were destroyed by the mint and only a
handfull escaped through normal commerce.
The chances of a doubled die happening now is supposed to be slim and none. Dies and hubs are made by the "single squeeze" method now, meaning that only one impression is needed to create the hub or die. Formerly it took more than one impression and when these impressions didn't line up exactly, that's when doubled dies would occur. That's a bit of a simplistic description, but it gives you an idea of how it happens. The only way a doubled die could occur now, I suppose, is if something went awry during that single impression, something like clatter or a shift of some sort or something similar. I'd say that your Massachusetts quarter shows machine doubling for this reason. The single squeeze method began at the Denver mint in the summer of 1996 when they opened their own die making shop. In 1996 Denver began this process for cents, nickels and dimes. Quarters were added in 1997. Halves followed in 1999. At Philly single squeezing began in 1997 with cents, nickels, dimes and quarters. Halves followed in 1999. Hope this helps.