1968 S question please

[Purplegirl61]

This 1968s looks odd at date and mintmark, yes?

[Purplegirl61]

Another picture hopefully better

[mustbebob]

This is classic machine doubling (MD). Pretty nice example, but really no premium as many, many were struck with loose dies this year.

[Kloccwork419]

This is machine/mechanical doubling MD. Can see it on the chin too. Most likely around the lips and nose also. Not a doubled die


Bob beat me.

[MintErrors]

This is more than likely machine doubling.

Let's walk through this coin.

First go to:
http://varietyvista.com/01b%20LC%20D...O%201968-S.htm

That page lists all of the known doubled dies for the 1968-S year. If you look at the numbering convention that is used there, if the listing has a "PR-#" , that means its a proof, so we want to ignore those. So, with that being said, it looks like we have just a few choices. DDO-001 and DDO-003.

Clicking on the DDO-001 link will show some examples, but the date does not appear to be close to what yours looks like.

Going back one page, and then clicking on the DDO-003 link also does not appear to look like your coin.

So, it is probably not a DDO.

OK, now lets look at the coin itself, focusing on the date and the mintmark.

When the US Mint made dies back then, they made the dies first. Later in the process, just before use, they would add the mintmark. Why is this statement important? Its due to the way your date AND mint mark look. They both look shelf like and damaged in the same general direction.

If this was a doubled die, in most instances the mintmark would be normal would not appear doubled since it was added AFTER the die was created. The doubled die would have been made, and later the mint mark was added.....

What happened here more than likely is the minting press had issues, and was not lifting high enough when the coin was attempting to clear the dies and it caused some mechanical damage/machine doubling - basically worthless doubling.

Machine doubling makes the letters appear a bit lower and the letters/numbers become thinner. Some times, not always you can get a sense of direction of how the damage occurred. It looks like the die lifted up from the Southwest and headed towards the Northeast (bottom left to top right).

The examples on variety vista seem to show more doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST than anywhere else. It looks like a small cookie cutter style line that travels on the edge of the letters. That is where there was one impression on the working dies super-imposed over the other. Again, that working die after having multiple impressions on it is put into a minting machine and it produces coins with that doubled die impression.

A basic explanation of a doubled die is.... take a wad of Playdoh. flatten in out. Take a BIG coin, token or medallion or anything at all that would leave an image into the playdoh. Press the item face down in the playdoh and gently, probably with the aid of a a butterknife, slowly take that coin or item out of the playdoh. Once its out, take a quick look at how it looks. Then, place it back into the playdoh a second time, but be just a little off rotation-wise. Remove the coin or item once again and take a look how this image looks. Note that most of the images should appear at the same depth and give that doubled look. That is the best way I can how a doubled die is created.

Photo is better, keep up the good work. Some programs photo editing programs may allow you to focus a photo while editing it. It will sharpen up any fuzziness, but it depends if it adds to much or takes away something. Best photographs are a pain but would contain a Good lighting, focus and size.

[Purplegirl61]

THank you for the educational input. I am figuring out the picture snap shots, Finally.

[MintErrors]

THank you for the educational input. I am figuring out the picture snap shots, Finally.

MD.jpg

[MintErrors]

You are always welcome.