1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-019

Description

Carrying a light spread confined to the date, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent DDO-019 is one of several proof doubled die obverse varieties from this year in which the hub doubling manifests as a subtle secondary image on the numerals 1, 9, 6, and 2. Light spread varieties require patient examination technique: the proof surface's mirror-like fields, while beautiful, can scatter light in ways that either reveal or conceal fine doubling depending on the viewing angle, making systematic tilting under a focused light source essential. This variety is cataloged under die markers UVC-2023 and DMR-021. In the die production process, each working hub was pressed into annealed die steel multiple times under enormous hydraulic pressure to transfer the full depth of the coin design; if the die or hub shifted even fractionally between impressions, the resulting die carried a doubled image at whatever intensity the displacement magnitude dictated. For DDO-019, that magnitude was small — hence the light classification — but it was nonetheless permanent and was faithfully reproduced on every proof cent struck from this die during the 1962 proof set production run. Collectors working through groups of 1962 proof cents should examine the date area at 10x to 12x magnification, looking for a faint secondary outline or shelf on one or more digits. The light character of the spread means that only specimens in pristine proof condition, free of hazing or fingerprints that could obscure the field-device junction, will show the doubling to best advantage.

Die Markers

• UVC-2023; DMR-021

External References