2004 P 5c Peace/Handshake DDO

[russellhome]

I recently bought this 2004 P 5c Peace/Handshake DDO on eBay. The seller took a chance on a true auction and botched the description - so I got a really good deal. A couple of years ago, I bought one of these in an NGC holder grading MS64. It turned out to be a late die state (LDS) example and other than extra thickness, very little of the doubling details remained. I was pretty disappointed, so I sold it and waited for a better coin. This one is a little better - but man is this one tough to photograph! It is not as early of a die state as the ones published in CW/Num. News - but with some work, I was able to capture some of the faint separation lines. The photos are through the holder - so pardon the haze.


The notch in the star and the tip of the 4 are a bit mushy - but do show up. Faint separation lines are visible on the '004', but are near impossible to capture with my equipment.

The separation lines in RU show up pretty good.

Again, mushy but visible notches.

The notch/split in the eyelid shows up nicely.

Unlike the published photos, no visible separation lines in WE. I was barely able to capture the notches in the E.


I imagine this one would look much more impressive in a very early die state. This one is better than what I had, however I'd still like to do better and get a true EDS version of this DDO.

I don't understand why grading companies don't include an EDS, MDS, or LDS designation on the label. With this die variety, die state really matters and it is impossible to know what you are getting from the NGC label. The one I bought had no close-up photos - so I trusted the attribution on the holder. The variety is clearly correctly attributed - but I'd still like to see a die state designation on the label. Without it, you don't really know what you are getting until you see it in hand.

[wavysteps]

Hi Ken - I was lucky for where I live was one of the focal areas for this doubled die. Even then, after searching over a 100 box of nickels and pulling over 70 of this doubled die out of those boxes, I came up with an EDS coin, However, it only graded out at MS61. Still, I went for die state over condition.







BJ Neff

[russellhome]

Thanks for adding to the post BJ.

Now people can see what I'm talking about when they can compare your 'Early Die State' photos to my 'Mid Die State' images. The difference is amazing. I wish I'd kept the failed attempts to photograph something worth while on my LDS example. On that one, no separation lines were visible and die deterioration was well on its way to hiding the notches and extra thickness on the letters and date.

I'd heard that Florida and Philly PA were the hot spots for this variety. Congrats on your finds -- but it looks like you had to really work for it. I'm glad you were able to find an EDS example. On this die variety, the details appear to have faded quickly. And I'm sure they will wear off quickly with circulation. With the limited quantities of EDS versions on the market, I may just have to live with what I have.