This post will probably end up pretty lengthy, but I know that if you folks read this, it will help some of you in the long run. The purpose of this post is to stress exactly how critical it is to LOOK FOR THE DOUBLING FIRST, THEN CONFIRM WITH MARKERS! I practice, and preach, this almost always. I have a "followed search" on eBay, that is always set up as follows: Category - all small cents, Max Price - what I have in paypal (this instance $12.71), and set to "time ending soonest." I have studied Lincoln varieties extensively over the last 4 years or so, and have been very luck lately cherrypicking them. This instance was not a lucky one. A week ago, I went into eBay, and the coin pictured below had 40 something seconds left, and was at $8.50. I've been on the lookout for a 1909P VDB DDO-001 or DDO-002 to cherry. I clicked on the image and zoomed up on LIBERTY. BOOM! The B & R were filled, which are 2 key markers for Stage C of DDO-002. I scrolled over to the date area and BOOM! The clash mark at Lincoln's throat was visible! Another key marker for Stage C. I quickly scanned the reverse for damage, and bid $12.71 with 4 seconds left. I won the coin for $10.25! Check out Wexler's site for the Stage C images and descriptions. The obv & rev are below. http://doubleddie.com/287322.html The coin arrived quickly. I looked at LIBERTY, gave a fist pump, and went to the date area. There's the neck clash! Yes!! Now the thick date...What?!? Where was the thickness on the date? I went to WE. WHAT!!?! Where was the hook on the E? Dumbfounded, I went back to Wexler's. Ok, so there's supposed to be clash marks at the C on the reverse. What?!? No clash on the reverse! "Wait a minute, there's some die damage around the UN on my coin. Why has no attributor mentioned it?" I drove myself nuts for a couple of hours. What was going on...ATTENTION TO DETAIL! Read Wexler's description of the markers as the die transfers from Stage A to C. The top of the B fills first, then the bottom. Check! Then, the critical part. The R does the opposite. The bottom chips out and then the top. "Wait a minute, my coin has the top of the R filled, but the bottom only has a minuscule chip. Uh-oh!" Let's look closer at the neck clash. It is ever so slightly farther away from the throat! Short story long (LOL!), after asking for help on Lincoln Cent Resource, a very helpful member brought it to my attention that there is a "copycat" die for DDO-002. Please folks, look for doubling first! Who would have thought there would be another VDB obv die with a filled B & R? If this helps one person to not make this mistake, it was worth typing all of this. Happy hunting!
Aw man that sucks you didn't get what you were after. Sounds like it wasn't too great a loss at least.
It seems like the DDO-2 would be difficult to discern from photos. But, I could see how it appeared to have the markers from the photo. I've bought stuff without fully looking the coin over. It happens. Its how we learn the next time we look over the same coin. It still looks like a nice coin.
It has a great strike and detail, but I suspect it's been dipped or lightly cleaned. There's still luster present, but the color is odd. It's silver looking, almost like a steel cent.
