I was looking through some of my old mercury dimes when I ran across this one. At first glance I thought OHH Boy but at closer look I beleieve it is just machine doubleng but still pretty neat. Then when I flipped it over and saw the S I really suspected machine doubling.
Can't really tell about the S. Is the mintmark doubled too? I have a 1945P with date doubling. Probably that too is machine doubling.
No the S mint mark is normal. Just found an old 1866 3 cent piece that was in a roll of mercs (bonus Time lol).
All right, how can you tell if a coin is machine doubled or "really doubled"? And what happens to make coins machine doubled or "really doubled". Thanks.
DJ, There is a great article in the numismatic links forum written by Bill Fivaz (I believe), which has very clear pictures, and is definitely worth giving the once over. Here is the direct link: http://www.coinbidders.com/Strike Doubling Flyer - PDF.pdf
Thats an excellent link zaneman. I was directed to that link a year or so ago when i was still trying to figure our the doubling issues. I can look at those pictures, and sure as dahy, i can see what they are talking about. Applying that to a coin in my hand is a very different story. I can lok at thousands of 1 cent coins, find hundreds of seemingly mechanical doubling examples - i look at pics on this forum that people say 'Wow, lovely doubled die" and it looks like MD to me.... looking at pictures alone just wont do it, at least it has failed for me lol
I have to confess, I'm in the same boat. I read this article, too, a long time ago. In the abstract, I'm an expert on doubling. But coin-in-hand, I'm still like a young boy about to try on his first pair of long pants.
