None of us can tell you with 100% certainty if it is real. I believe this is something you should be submitting to a TPG to have it attributed.
Don't get too hasty and make a mistake. You need to submit this coin on your own. Check out these three websites: http://www.pcgs.com/ https://www.ngccoin.com/ http://anacs.com/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 I think @Rick Stachowski or @cpm9ball could most likely tell you the best place to submit it. I'd lean towards ANACS because they authenticate most error/variety coins. Whatever you do, do NOT hand this coin to anyone to submit for you.
Thanks for the advice! A coin dealer told me he'd give me $3.50 for it. I said no thanks. I will definitely be taking your advice and submitting it in my own.
If you're concerned about the cost for submitting it, then ANACS is the best place because their cost is lower. Both NGC and PCGS have a membership fee. However, if you are an ANA (American Numismatic Association) member, you can get submission privileges to NGC for free. Chris
Double struck coins are rare but aren't nonexistent. Here is one. www.cointalk.com/threads/1999-double-die-penny.194577/ And another http://m.ebay.com/itm/162216545789.
@Pennies_aplenty @Seattlite86 What bugs me about the coin is that the secondary impression appears very weak. I can't imagine how that could happen in the coining chamber. Chris
The weak looking strike, is usually the first strike. The metal is hardened by the first strike and the second strike doesn't have enough energy to flatten the hardened coin back out.
I don't know if I can agree with that. Have you ever seen the multi-coin strikes that Charmy has shown us? If the strike hardens the coin, then how are a dozen or more coins seemingly melded together. Chris
No I haven't. But tried searching it on here and it returned no results. I do know that metal, including coins, can be and is bonded by pressure. In fact, pressure is all that bonds clad coinage. But before a coin is struck, it goes through an annealing process to soften it before striking.
That's called a capped die and all the "melding" is taking place between the dies under great pressure. I've seen a stack at the mint four inches high with a slight curvature and I'm sure there are bigger ones! @Pennies_aplenty ICG and ANACS are your least expensive grading services and you do not need to be a member.
you have a good eye so keep looking, Personally i'd send it to ANACS. Gives the rest of us roll searchers hope...I havent found anything in a while