1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-016

Description

Struck from specially prepared proof dies at the Philadelphia Mint as part of the 1962 proof set production of 3,218,019 sets, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent DDO-016 carries a light spread that manifests as extra thickness on the digits of the date. Doubled die obverse varieties arise when the working hub impresses the working die with a slight positional shift between successive impressions, embedding a permanent doubled image into the die steel that is then reproduced on every coin struck from it. On proof specimens, the combination of polished planchets and multiple high-pressure strikes produces exceptionally sharp design elements, and this heightened definition can actually work in the collector's favor when searching for doubled dies — the mirrored fields and frosted devices create contrast that can make even a light spread more perceptible than it would be on a business strike of equivalent doubling strength. DDO-016 is tracked under die markers UVC-2020 and DMR-018. The date area is one of the most commonly affected zones for hub doubling on Lincoln cents because the numerals occupy a recessed portion of the die where slight hub misalignments translate into visible displacement. Collectors examining 1962 proof cents for this variety should work under a single-point light source angled at roughly 45 degrees to the coin surface, slowly tilting the coin to catch the moment when the secondary thickness on the date digits separates visually from the primary design — a technique that takes advantage of the proof surface's reflective properties to reveal the light doubling.

Die Markers

• UVC-2020; DMR-018

External References