Interesting features on 1961 Jefferson Nickel

[Francis]

The attached photos show features found on a 1961 nickel. Could the ones on the dome and base of the building and the face of Jefferson be DDs? Also the Os in MONTICELLO and OF and R in AMERICA exhibit a sharp spike. Are they a result of polishing error since the letters seemed to be polished.

[mustbebob]

Everything you photographed is MD. You are also correct about the reverse letters, but from die deterioration. I do not see evidence of abrasion or polishing.

[Francis]

Thank you for the comments. Would you explain why they are mechanical so that we, the beginners, may understand better? It is very confusing to me because there are many DDs listed in for example varietyvista.com, doubleddie.com, and error-ref.com which seem to be mechanical or minor variations.

[mustbebob]

Mechanical simply means that the doubling was caused by the striking of the coin and not the hubbing of the die. Doubling can occur if the dies or collars are loose during striking, or if something else happens from a mechanical means. Varieties are made during the minting or hubbing of the actual dies.

there are many DDs listed in for example varietyvista.com, doubleddie.com, and error-ref.com which seem to be mechanical or minor variations.

This is where the attributions come in. Who ever attributed the coin(s) you claim seem to be mechanical has determined that they are indeed hub related and not mechanical. That is how they make it to the listings in the first place. There is a VERY small chance that an attributer got it wrong, but that really is unlikely. Their knowledge of the minting process and the differences between hub and mechanical doubling is why they are attributers and listed them in the first place.

[Francis]

Thank you for the reply.

[jcuve]

Please see what I put here:

https://board.conecaonline.org/forum/education/variety-coin-information/53434-identifying-machine-doubling-aka-mechanical-or-strike-doublingcal-or