1961 D nickel ear error +

I have a 1961 Jefferson nickel that appears to show what looks like a stamped or printed smear around Jefferson's ear area under magnification. At first glance, it almost resembles a doubled ear or some type of mis-strike, but I'm still learning about mint errors and varieties.
I'm aware 1961 nickels can exhibit machine doubling, die deterioration, die chips, and other mint-made anomalies, so I'm hoping for some opinions before jumping to conclusions.
Based on the photos, does this appear to be:
Machine doubling?
A doubled die?
A die chip or die break?
Strike-related damage?

 

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Can't tell from the photos what the dot in the "O" is, but it's probably a form of die deterioration. The circular impression is almost definitely damage, but there is a chance it's a strike through. Once again I can't tell for sure from the photos.

 

Hello. Your poll is horrible. It is not good to put stuff like that on this forum. I'm talking about the last choice.
The answer is no. It is not a Doubled Die variety.
I'm giving you an honest answer. I'm definitely not a hater

Everything else is post mint damage.
There are no mint errors of any kind on your nickel.

 

No chance at all. That coin was probably underneath a table leg to keep it from wobbling

 

Those circles are a form of damage.

 

I agree, PMD, but there may be a die chip in the "O", but it's still worth 5 cents.

 

Or damage from the old time coin dispensers vendors wore on their belts. I’ve seen lots of coins with that circular damage in the center, from the plunger in the coin dispensers. Poll me as a hater I guess, because no further review is needed.

 

Well, back then in the early 60's you still had old parking meters in smaller towns. Back then, a nickel was probably a half hour, maybe an hour. You put your penny/nickel in and rotated the handle 180 degrees. I'm not sure there was a dime choice back then, and certainly not a quarter.

 

we have a town near us that does have parking meters and the parking meters only take dimes. For $.10 you get one hour parking. They will write tickets if you’re expired. But the cost of upgrading their meters isn’t worth the extra $.15 in their opinion

 

we have a town near us that does have parking meters and the parking meters only take dimes. For $.10 you get one hour parking. They will write tickets if you’re expired. But the cost of upgrading their meters isn’t worth the extra $.15 in their opinion