Hmmmm, I'm not an expert. But this could be getting close to a double die. I've seen a lot of machine doubling (shelf like and die deterioration). I think yours is looking good. From where I sit, I'm thinking nice find! How does the rest of the coin look? Let's wait for other to chime in with their opinions. I hate going first!
Everything I can find says that it is how the MD comes off on the incuse design elements. Here is a thread I found that shows a 2015 that looks almost like yours but a different ATB. http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=237248 I'm inclined to think it is MD.
Your coin has a fantastic look but it is MD'ed . When an incuse design element is doubled on the die it will become smaller than normal. Look at the letters of EPU in this link and note how small and spindly they are. This is how incuse letters will tend to look on a coin struck with a doubled die. http://varietyvista.com/01e LC Doubled Dies Vol 5/2011PDDR001 cent.htm
Thanks for the link. I see the 2015 picture and now understand that the die bounce can cause the enlarged 5, but the explanation a few threads below describe the Hub Doubling to be smaller/narrower than the regular letter/number. This looks like what happened on the E. The chances to have both next to each other is probably unlikely, so it could be MD also. But...
The tops of the affected letters and numbers do look interesting. The modern era doubled dies that I am aware of that are strong enough to show on the design elements at the rim also show substantial doubling as the center is approched. Do you see this on your coin. Also I am not sure what die deterioration will look like on incuse letters
Wow , those letters are incused ????? Sure look raised to me , though I know this happens in some pics . Still an interesting coin .
