1970-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-012

Description

One of the scarcer varieties in this batch, DDO-012 on the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial cent combines two collector-significant attributes: it is a proof coin and it belongs to the Small Date obverse die variety (ODV-026). The Small Date 1970-S is considerably scarcer than its Large Date counterpart, and proof Small Date DDOs represent a narrow intersection of three collecting categories — proof coins, Small Date varieties, and doubled dies. The doubling presents as a medium spread on LIBERTY with light spread on the date and very light spread on TRUST, creating a gradient of visibility across the obverse that requires careful examination at each location. Die markers UVC-2262 and DMR-021 anchor this variety. The Small Date designation (ODV-026) is distinguished from the Large Date (ODV-025) primarily by the proportions of the date numerals: on Small Date dies, the top of the 7 aligns lower relative to the adjacent digits, and the 0 appears smaller and more rounded. Proof striking enhances the visibility of the medium spread on LIBERTY, where the mirror-like proof surface provides contrast that makes doubled serifs and letter edges more apparent. The lighter spread on the date and TRUST may require higher magnification to confirm. As a proof variety, DDO-012 would have been distributed exclusively through the San Francisco Mint's 1970 proof set program, limiting its population to the number of proof sets produced that year.

Die Markers

• UVC-2262; DMR-021

External References