Double dies - how are they differant?

[J_Dodge]

Can someone explain to me how one coin, for example - the 1955 Wheat Double die is so valuable cause it's been doubled, while on another coin, the doubling is "ignored' as it's "machine doubling". Confused by all this.

Thanks

JD

[GGerrands]

Sorry this reply isn't more detailed, but I might suggest looking on google for Ken Potter's Variety Vault. I think he has a special section on that site just about the different kinds of doubling.

I believe the difference is just what it says. In a true "double die," the die itself is doubled, whereas in machine doubling the press just strikes twice. (from http://www.lincolncentresource.com/FAQ/machinedoubling.html).

Hope these help!

[dirty fingers]

In 'machine doubling', the coins is only struck 1 time. However, the die has a little jitter to it. As the actual strike is taking place, the die 'snaps into place' at the last moment. This is believed to be a loose fitting die.

As to the reason why they have less (no) extra value, I really do not know, other than they are likely much more common. I think one reason why the double die varieties have such a premium on them, is that they are actually something human done in the process, and they are things that SHOULD have been inspected (the finished die), and never been used at all. The machine doubling seems to be a 'normal' mechanical side effect of the minting process, something the mint would like to not have happen, but it does, and there is no way they can remove the examples from the multi billion cents minted each year.

The pictures on the example page linked above are good examples of machine doubling. I have both examples of the 68s, the same 69s, 2 of the 72's and about 20 other machine double examples.