I assure you,this isnt a stain...lol. I cannot find a refrence for this year that is a double ear....but does it not look like one? I apologize if I'm not informed on what I am seeing here,I'm trying.
According to my 2020 Red Book, the double ear is only known for the 1984 cent, the 1983 cent is known to have a D/D reverse variety. Also, I don't see a double ear here myself, comparing your images to the book. I would highly recommend going to your local coin shop and picking up this book, I think I paid $10 for it.
I see what you are pointing out - the lower earlobe, doubled. But ... I don't know about these things 100% ... compared to Usacoinbook.com's picture of a 1983P I'm going to guess that it took a hit right on the ear lobe which looks like it "split" the ear, making it look somewhat DD. The reasoning is the "upper" ear is not complete as it doesn't curl down and around. The lower "lobe" has the indentation that also pushed down the left edge part of the ear making it look like a little valley running across the lower part of the ear lobe. In short, gratuitous looking Damage. The top of the ear also looks split from damage. @furryfrog02
Ok thanks,I can see where that could most definitely be a hit. With that being said,here are 2 more 83s that I was curious about,one looks like...(excuse my terminology) a cud on the earlobe.. and the other I'm not exactly sure what's going on,any insight would be tremendously appreciated. Also,note the chin on the first one.
A cud is a die break that starts on the edge of the coin. Anything else would be a die chip. That being said, I don't see either of those on your 83. I see a popped plating blister on the top of the ear on the first one. Chin just looks to be just some MD. CUD: Die Chip http://www.error-ref.com/die-chips/
chin is probably just mechanical doubling. some background info ... 1982 was a transitional year for the CENT. They went from basically a copper disc for the entire thing, to a zinc disc that has an 8 micron thin copper plating over it. This creates a situation similar to paint over steal such as with a car. Except worse. So the paint will bubble, etc as the underlying steel rusts. You'll see a lot of plating problems on 1982 and current cents, which are commonly called "zincolns". zinc reacts to water/steam except much quicker than steel would. Your cent isn't that bad, you'll come across many that will be much, much worse. more info: https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2016/08/unexpected-bumps-on-coins-surfaces-vary.all.html 5. Plating blisters Plating blisters develop in the coin in the immediate aftermath of the strike, as gas expands between the core and poorly bonded plating. Among domestic coins, plating blisters are the exclusive province of copper-plated zinc cents. Blisters are generally small and subcircular, with a smooth surface and soft outline. They can occur anywhere on the field and design. The design continues uninterrupted as it crosses a blister. 6. Occluded gas bubbles Solely the province of solid-alloy coins, occluded gas bubbles form just beneath the surface and push up the overlying metal immediately after the strike. Like plating blisters, the surface is smooth and the edges soft. The design is uninterrupted. 7. Corrosion domes Contaminants trapped beneath or penetrating the surface of aluminum, plated zinc, and plated steel coins can react with surrounding metal to form an expanding front of spongy, corroded metal. The resulting solid dome will superficially resemble a hollow plating blister or occluded gas bubble. In many cases the corroded metal bursts through and may fall out, leaving a crater.
