1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-017

Description

Among the more visually accessible proof doubled dies in the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent series, DDO-017 presents a strong spread on the date paired with a medium spread on TRUST — a dual-zone displacement that gives collectors two distinct areas to examine when attributing this variety. The strong classification on the date means the secondary image should be detectable at relatively low magnification, perhaps 5x to 7x, while the medium spread on TRUST may require slightly higher power to resolve clearly. This two-tier intensity pattern indicates that the hub misalignment during die manufacture produced a displacement vector that affected the lower left portion of the die (where the date sits) more strongly than the upper right area occupied by the final word of IN GOD WE TRUST, a distribution consistent with a pivot point located between the two zones. Cataloged under die markers UVC-2021 and DMR-019, this proof variety was struck from dies prepared for the 1962 proof set, which comprised 3,218,019 sets produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The dual-area involvement makes DDO-017 one of the more satisfying varieties to examine because the collector can observe the doubling transition from strong to medium across the face of the coin, gaining a tangible sense of the mechanical geometry that created the misalignment during the die's manufacture.

Die Markers

• UVC-2021; DMR-019

External References