I found this in my daily change today. Die deterioration? Machine Doubling? I’m sure it’s not a rarity, but would like to know exactly what it is and why/how it occurred. What I’m seeing is a “ghost” 9 and 8. First 9 from the left and the 8. Just a hair of it on the last 9 to the right.
Notice how the area inside the mint mark have the copper layer torn from distortion and the zinc showing through, another 50,000 strikes and the zinc probably will show in the date also, and get worse until the die self destructs or they replace it. Jim
How exactly did the die deterioration physically cause the "ghost" appearance of the digits in the date? How does it physically do this? Please review the attached close-up pix of the date. The second, third and fourth pic really show this "ghost date" very well, especially on the 8 and the 9's.
