Alright so I've never officially found a doubled die. There have been many times where I'm pretty darn sure, but I've never actually verified it in the whole year I've been diving into error coins. But ive learned so much! I've got to be honest though, in the beginning I had thought wrong a few times and it ended up being machine doubling. I suppose I haven't posted anything asking about doubled dies for quite some time because I think I just got a little discouraged. I have put many aside though and plan on finding out if they are or aren't doubled dies eventually. So this is the first one I'm posting and I could be completely off. But I felt the need to check with you guys anyways. Everyone is always been so kind and have helped teach me something new every time I post something. I am aware that the 1982 zinc small date doubled die reverse is very scarce so the chances of this being one is very slim to none. Can anyone help me out on this one? Also I think I'm allowed to put only 10 pictures uploaded at first but ive got a bit more then that. I apologize if some may seem repetitive but the lighting might be different. So after i post this ill add a few more. I figure it cant hurt to put all of the pics ive taken to help answer my questions. I know I always post practically novels and ask a lot of questions lol but I wanted to add that there is a mark above Lincoln's head on the obverse side that I thought was pretty interesting. I wasn't sure what made it or how it happened. But it's pretty cool. it's a straight line that goes from the top of his head up north east and through the "E" in "WE". Do things like this ever bring any value to a penny? And then there's also a mark under the "9" in the date. It's sort of a dent which could very well be post mint. But it did look a bit different then just a post mint nick/ scratch. Anyways, i always love any advice. Oh and I promise last thing, this is a little unrelated but can someone please tell me if it is okay to clean a penny with just simply water and soap? I hear all the time that you're not supposed to clean them but I didn't know if just soap and water would have any negative effect on the finish of a coin.
These are the last few additional pics i couldn't fit in my original post. I thought i might as well post all that i have of it.
I don't see any doubling anywhere, but I do see what could very well be die cracks. One on the front. One on the back. The one on the front is the line on Abe's head that you mention. Can you tell if it is raised above the surrounding metal? From the photo, it looks like it is. If it is not, if it is into the metal, then it is just a scratch. All of the rest of the marks on the front are just damage, including under the 9. On the reverse, there appears to be a very thin die crack running across the upper right corner of the building, into the field, across the leg of the R, and all the way to the rim. Again the question, is it raised or is it incised? That's the difference between a die crack and a scratch. It looks like a die crack to me. There is no other thing of note on the reverse except for a weird circle around one end of the first S in STATES. I only bring it up because of it's circularity and it being centered around the end of that S. I doubt if it is anything from the mint, or, in fact, anything at all. It's just weird. It could be zinc rot. As for value, that's mostly determined by you. How much do you like the coin? Do you have any other coins with die cracks? If not, maybe you should keep it as an example of a die crack. If it is a die crack, then it is a genuine mint error. Do you have any other genuine mint errors? If not, keep it for that reason. As for monetary value, you are not rich yet. As alurid said, it is too plain and common of an error to be worth much if anything. If you were to offer it on eBay, someone who collects die cracks or doesn't have a die crack might pay a couple of bucks for it, but then, maybe not. Remember on eBay there's always fees to consider, so that might end up being a wash. Personally, I would just put it in a flip, label it, and keep it, and consider this find as just.......Another Step on the Path to Numismatic Enlightenment.
As for cleaning coins, that is a very contentious subject. Most say Never! Some say it doesn't matter. Many say It depends. As for cleaning cents with any kind of soap, it will most likely change the color. Coins, especially copper and bronze based coins, gain a patina over time. Cleaning with any kind of soap will take away that patina, and leave most coins, especially copper cents, brighter than they were before, so it's usually very obvious that a cent has been cleaned. I typically don't clean my coins, except for a few that I might particularly want to shine. For example, I have hundreds of the '57 - '67 Mexican silver Pesos. If I plan to give one as a gift to someone, I might try to brighten it up some. The y can be mighty dull and dark otherwise. There are many more members on here who have more knowledge, and stronger opinions, about coin cleaning than I do.You could research old threads. I know the subject has been discussed many times. Good Luck and Keep Searching !!
No doubling on this coin unfortunately. But keep searching. There are plenty of DDOs/DDRs out there to be found (most not of huge value, but fun to find). As for cleaning: don't. However, do some reading on Coin Conservation. Conserving a coin is not cleaning a coin and it needs to be done on certain coins to slow/stop corrosion. Solutions are commercially available that should not alter the color or patina of a coin. Do some experimentation on spendable coinage; you don't want to risk devaluing a specimen you wish to retain. Good luck on the hunt!!
