1916 Buffalo Nickel - Double Die Obverse!

Hey all!

Just had a lucky day today! All comments are welcome! :hail:

 

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Could be a doubleD die.

What is the damage on the obverse above the indian? Solder? A badly repaired partial hole?

 

I guess someone started to make a hole. I am just glad it did not go all the way through! Any positives around here?

 

Looks more like mechanical doubling to me.
I'd like to see the "LIBERTY" as close as you did the date.

 

What is mechanical doubling? Good or bad?

 

The 1916 DDO is much more pronounced than this example. Agree with op that this is likley mechanical doubling. Estimated pop. of the actual 1916 DDO is less than 250 pieces, which is why a vg-10 sold for just shy of 10K at heritage about a month ago.

 

So how much is this one worth? And what does mechanical doubling mean?

 

There are a number of causes of mechanical doubling.
One of the most common is a loose die that shifts at the moment of impact in the coining press.
That shift causes the doubling.

Here's an example on one of my coins:



To be a true doubled die, the doubling has to occur during die production and is inherent in the die itself.

Unfortunately mechanical doubling adds nothing to a coin's value.

 

If it is mechanical doubling then it should also be present on the reverse correct? So take a close look at the lettering on the reverse of the coin (or post some zoom'ed in pictures).

~Droid

 

So you are saying this is worth no more than a dollar?

 

This is just plain old mechanical doubling. Here is a picture of the real ddo. Notice the strong pronounced doubling.

 

Nice horn.
Even a bit of the split tail.
I'd call it XF.
$10-15

 

I disagree.
Die shifting as I described generally only occurs on one side, and mostly the obverse.
The reverse die is much more solidly placed than the obverse die.
(But oddly enough, my example is on the reverse of the coin.)
I don't recall ever seeing a coin with mechanical doubling on both sides.

 

Another mess up! :headbang:

 

I've got to say the more I look the more that doubling on the liberty looks shelf like and flat the way mechanical doubling will.

 

Ah, I wasn't aware of that doubling mechanism (and I also started my reply before you posted your comment )

~Droid

 

NOT the DDO.
Sorry, but keep looking.

 

Nope another learning experience. Don't worry about it.

 

Can someone explain why this went so high?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1916-Buffalo-Ni...yZ139807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Probably because they lacked the knowledge. E-bay, land of the overpaying! I pretty much have no concerns for DD of any type or oddities / varities / overstrikes since I am not at all knowledgable yet. Someone paid $380 for that second link you posted, I can only imagine the tears if they ever have it professionally graded and find out it is only worth a couple bucks.