Doubled dies in modern cents (post 1990)
coppercoins
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I am among the guilty many who decided at some point in the past ten years that searching through modern pocket change for valuable die varieties was akin to trying to get water to run uphill...pretty much pointless. If it hadn't been for the diligence of the few who continued looking at whatever was available, we might not know of all the cherries that can be found in our modern coinage.
Although cents are all I know, I am sure this is still true with other series as well, most notably a nice doubled die found on a 2004 nickel by Gabe Alonso. I'll stick to the cents, however, because that's what I really study and know the most about.
obverse - since 1990 there have been a number of reported obverse doubled dies, most of them from 1990 through 1997. Just a couple of examples of post-1997 doubled die obverses are all it takes to show that they are indeed out there and can be found.
Many know about the 1995 doubled die obverses (more than 4 different ones altogether), and even perhaps those found on 1990, 1991, 1995D, and 1996 cents. Also of note is the 1997 "doubled ear" DDO that some experts do not agree with as being a doubled die at all. I have studied a number of these and can attest to you (and prove) that it is indeed a doubled die. What most don't know, however, is what to look for on post-1997 cents in searching for doubled dies.
In understanding why they seem to "cut-off" so suddenly, one must know that the multiple hubbing technique that produced so many doubled dies in earlier years was discontinued in 1996, bringing the typical, well known characteristic of notching with separation lines to a halt. With the advent of the "single-squeeze" method in 1997, hub doubling did not necessarily come to a complete end. We introduce here a new classification of hub doubling, that which is created with the single-squeeze hubbing technology.
If a hub and/or die is not fastened into the hubbing press very tightly when hubbing a die begins, the loose fitted piece can "slide" and "pop" into place after the hubbing pressure begins. This snapping into place can cause the design to become shifted while the die is being hubbed, causing doubling on the resulting coins. The best known (but not only known) example of this to date happened in 2001. When comparing the doubled die (discovered by researcher Billy G. Crawford) to a normal coin from the same date, the doubling is readily apparent, even though it may not look much like doubling without the comparison coin. This same style of doubling is also known on a 2003P cent, so the 2001P cent is not completely alone. I am sure that if people learn this form of doubling and look for it, they will find that it exists on other dates as well. Take a look at the characteristics and diagnostic information on the 2001 doubled die obverse to see more.
reverse - To get a good grasp of what has been happening on the reverse of the Lincoln cent over the past 15 years we must remember first that the multiple hubbing technique ended in the same year for the reverse of the Lincoln cent in the same year it ended for the obverse - 1997. While one single example of classic hub doubling is known on a 1998P cent, most of the doubled dies known on the reverse of modern Lincolns seem to start with a 1994 cent that shows a doubling to the south that extends the columns of the memorial building into the steps and base of the building. First reported in 1998, these doubled dies have since become known as the "wavy steps" doubled dies because of the appearance of waves in the steps of the building. Look here for an example of such a doubled die, the first one known. Since this 1994 doubled die was found, many more have surfaced from most dates up to present.
Also of note on the reverse of the modern Lincoln cent is the design changes that have taken place over the past 25-35 years. Many know of the mess-up regarding the "wide and close AM" change, but many do not know that this is the seventh such change in the memorial reverse design. Most notable are the 1972-1973-1974 changes in the designer's initials that make 1973 a one-year minor type. Take a look at the initials on the reverse of cents from these three years and you'll see exactly what I mean. Then try to find one with a mismatched reverse. Although none have been reported to date, keeping a watch out for one might make you an important discoverer. Other changes took place on the reverse of the Lincoln cent in 1982 and 1987 that might be worth watching.
More to come at a different time, when I'm not tired of typing.
Although cents are all I know, I am sure this is still true with other series as well, most notably a nice doubled die found on a 2004 nickel by Gabe Alonso. I'll stick to the cents, however, because that's what I really study and know the most about.
obverse - since 1990 there have been a number of reported obverse doubled dies, most of them from 1990 through 1997. Just a couple of examples of post-1997 doubled die obverses are all it takes to show that they are indeed out there and can be found.
Many know about the 1995 doubled die obverses (more than 4 different ones altogether), and even perhaps those found on 1990, 1991, 1995D, and 1996 cents. Also of note is the 1997 "doubled ear" DDO that some experts do not agree with as being a doubled die at all. I have studied a number of these and can attest to you (and prove) that it is indeed a doubled die. What most don't know, however, is what to look for on post-1997 cents in searching for doubled dies.
In understanding why they seem to "cut-off" so suddenly, one must know that the multiple hubbing technique that produced so many doubled dies in earlier years was discontinued in 1996, bringing the typical, well known characteristic of notching with separation lines to a halt. With the advent of the "single-squeeze" method in 1997, hub doubling did not necessarily come to a complete end. We introduce here a new classification of hub doubling, that which is created with the single-squeeze hubbing technology.
If a hub and/or die is not fastened into the hubbing press very tightly when hubbing a die begins, the loose fitted piece can "slide" and "pop" into place after the hubbing pressure begins. This snapping into place can cause the design to become shifted while the die is being hubbed, causing doubling on the resulting coins. The best known (but not only known) example of this to date happened in 2001. When comparing the doubled die (discovered by researcher Billy G. Crawford) to a normal coin from the same date, the doubling is readily apparent, even though it may not look much like doubling without the comparison coin. This same style of doubling is also known on a 2003P cent, so the 2001P cent is not completely alone. I am sure that if people learn this form of doubling and look for it, they will find that it exists on other dates as well. Take a look at the characteristics and diagnostic information on the 2001 doubled die obverse to see more.
reverse - To get a good grasp of what has been happening on the reverse of the Lincoln cent over the past 15 years we must remember first that the multiple hubbing technique ended in the same year for the reverse of the Lincoln cent in the same year it ended for the obverse - 1997. While one single example of classic hub doubling is known on a 1998P cent, most of the doubled dies known on the reverse of modern Lincolns seem to start with a 1994 cent that shows a doubling to the south that extends the columns of the memorial building into the steps and base of the building. First reported in 1998, these doubled dies have since become known as the "wavy steps" doubled dies because of the appearance of waves in the steps of the building. Look here for an example of such a doubled die, the first one known. Since this 1994 doubled die was found, many more have surfaced from most dates up to present.
Also of note on the reverse of the modern Lincoln cent is the design changes that have taken place over the past 25-35 years. Many know of the mess-up regarding the "wide and close AM" change, but many do not know that this is the seventh such change in the memorial reverse design. Most notable are the 1972-1973-1974 changes in the designer's initials that make 1973 a one-year minor type. Take a look at the initials on the reverse of cents from these three years and you'll see exactly what I mean. Then try to find one with a mismatched reverse. Although none have been reported to date, keeping a watch out for one might make you an important discoverer. Other changes took place on the reverse of the Lincoln cent in 1982 and 1987 that might be worth watching.
More to come at a different time, when I'm not tired of typing.
C. D. Daughtrey, NLG
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.
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Comments
<< <i>Nice Chuck. Don't leave out the 1994 ddr 1-R-IV. Extra columns. I think this is a nice and rare cent. >>
ask and ye shall receive...
The 1994 doubled die reverse to which Joe refers is the only known die of its kind. It shows extra details spread widely to the west in the memorial building, most notably an extra column inside the last bay to the right. These are quite scarce and always bring a good premium value. Although not impossible, it is somewhat unlikely that this odd form of doubling happened in any other case, which is why I didn't mention it in my first post. I was more leaning toward the more typical types of doubling found on the more modern (single squeeze) cents.
And now, the die in subject:
1994P-1DR-001
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.
<< <i>There is one dealer here who has done a lot with finding doubled/tripled die modern coins. Every time I see him he shows me another cool one. He's helped me learn how to view them properly, too. BTW, Charles, do you remember the date of that tripled die cent that you saw in the photograph here on the forum about a year ago? I believe it was a 1972S or 1974S. >>
No, actually, I don't remember a tripled die cent from either of those years. Could you point me in the right direction?
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.