Look at the link that @Islander80-83 sent you. What you have is die deterioration doubling/split plate doubling.
I (we) know what you're seeing and feeling. It does look like a doubling to the untrained eye. Those images can fool you. Years ago, I about fell out of me chair when I first saw one of those. We were all there ourselves once. You're looking in the right spot though!
Classic case of DDD - Die Deterioration Doubling. Nothing at all to do with a true Doubled Die variety. Just a worn die strike. Here is the information http://www.error-ref.com/die-deterioration-doubling-incuse/
you are confusing things. You have a Zinc Memorial cent not a Wheat cent. The "wheat" or "memorial" is a design. But the Zinc core is a composition. Since mid 1982 cents are made with a zinc core, and an 8 micron thin copper plating over that zinc core. "Wheat cents" design, which is indicative of the reverse wheat stalks was from 1909 to 1958 and where basically 95% Copper - 5% Tin and Zinc. Whereas the modern zincoln (zinc core, 8 micron thin copper plating) is 97.5% Zinc - 2.5% Copper. Wheat cents were replaced with the "Memorial cent" design from 1959 to 1982, when the composition for the cent was totally changed. The Memorial design continued until 2008 though when other designs were introduced. Because of the 8 micron thin copper plating it very easily gets stretched and torn while minting. Remember, the mint is making cents for identification as money. They did not design this for collectors, well they did but those you pay more for in Proof and uncirculated packages. All the circulated stuff is mass produced *as fast as* possible in order to reduce the manufacturing costs, which is the utmost important thing .. not the visual quality for discerning collectors. FYI, in 1864 zinc was added to the composition of the Indian Head cent as 95% Copper - 5% Tin and Zinc.
It wasn't. I was referring to the OP's 1986 cent. Zinc was introduced in 1982. In 1983 all Cents were are still are zinc. Please read what @Clawcoins wrote as it's spot on. I didn't look at all of your photos but they are rpm's, not Doubled dies.
