Coin pictured is a 2000 $5 Gold Eagle. Doubling is present on all letters of LIBERTY and most of the stars around the rim. Also last 00 of date shows some doubling. Wondering if this is a form of strike/mechanical doubling. It is so widespread and appears to be only confined to outer areas of the coin. By the way there is no doubling anywhere on the reverse. I have attached a few pics but they are not the best quality.
Those pictures look pretty darn good to me. You obviously haven't run into any of my alleged photos yet.
All I see is light from the LED's of the USB microscope reflecting back. I used to get fooled by that all the time. Move the lights different ways and the doubling will disappear, or move. I hope I'm wrong, and I'm only into Lincoln memorial cents but that's what I'm seeing.
I can assure you the doubling in the pics is not caused by light reflection. It is there with normal lighting and easily seen with a loupe. Took it to my local coin shop and the owner agrees with me that the doubling is extensive, completely around the edge both on L I B E R T Y as well as the stars. He is going to take it to the upcoming Dalton, GA coin show and let the grading experts there give their opinion. I suspect it will turn out to be shelf doubling, but it sure is widespread; other examples I have seen were more localized on those coins.
Sent pics to Dr. James Wiles and he confirmed my suspicions. Not doubled die but rather machine damage doubling.
I think it's quite clearly strike doubling. The other gentleman's post about lighting does, in fact, happen, but as you said it is not the case with this particular example.
