Could it possibly be? on the front I'm seeing a RPM D over D and on the back DD. I'm I hallucinating?
Lincoln Cent Resource doesn't list one, but Wexler's does. Although he doesn't show the E and your E (in AMERICA) seems to be showing something. Wexler's marker says "die gouge in the top of the C in CENT." So look for this:
I can't tell. I do see something. The lettering in AMERICA is impressive. Perhaps just a regular photo of the reverse, to determine if it is genuine, or some plating defect which is common.
Very interesting!!! Try changing your lighting levels, source, and direction. There is something about the zinc plated pennies that give weird reflection that tricked my eyes a ton.
Ok. I'll try and take some better shots. But here are some more of the coin. The whole thing is doubled. Even the obverse, but on the obverse it's just machine doubling.
This is a deteriorated die with some MD. @Michael K where did you find this on Wexler? I can only find DDO's for this date.
I think you're right. So I learnt something new on this one. This is a 3D world we live in and despite the fact that most coins have flat top or rounded top devices (that's the top of the whole letter, away from the field and towards you). A deep good impression will have filled the cavity of the die and you would actually get a sharp edge at the top of each of the letter. Which is why the optical illusion of splitting due to light reflecting off the two sides. It's kind of annoying that the so called "proof" coins don't display the same characteristics. In fact, looking at it closely, it even seems to lack serifs as well. Aren't proof coins stamped multiple times? What gives? They should have perfectly sharp edges of the triangular and trapezoid shapes that make the lettering with immaculate serifs. P.S. YES, The proof coin images are from a 1983 S Proof coin, same year as the business strike.
I have pictures of an old coin I took years ago with the coin in a 2x2 mylar flip with 2 flashes in bounce mode at 45 degree angles. If you look at the image you'd swear the entire obverse & reverse was DD or at least MD. Unless you took it out of the flip and inspected the coin. It had nothing that you could see in the photos. So what you see here does not exist under normal lighting, and out side of the flip. Go figure .... I was going to make a thread about it .. called "MLS (Mylar/Light/Shutterspeed) Doubling" but haven't gotten around to it.
Coins photo'd in a flip are the worst for those of us looking at doubling. It definitely distorts the image.
A high grade coins, to pops should all show this sharpness that you are talking about. Being that business strikes usually have a more rounded appearance. What you should be looking at is the luster on those devices to see how sharp it is.
Yes, I had the photos just for insurance/death inventory stuff. When I was looking 'em over I saw that one with all the doubling. Then went to check it out and it had nothing seen in the picture. pretty kewl.
