How I Solved My Coin Collecting Mystery: Identifying Doubling and Face Discrepancies (A Step-by-Step Guide)

I Was So Sure I’d Found a Fortune – Here’s What Actually Happened

Picture this: I’m hunched over my desk, heart racing as I examine a 1969-S Lincoln cent under my cheap magnifying glass. “This is it!” I whispered to myself, convinced I’d discovered a rare doubled die error. The face looked distorted, and I swore part of Lincoln’s profile was missing. Fast forward three hours – I’m surrounded by empty coffee cups and more confused than ever. Sound familiar? Let me save you the headache I went through.

Doubled Dies vs. Machine Doubling: The Lightbulb Moment

My journey hit a wall until I grasped this crucial difference:

• Real Doubled Die (DDO/DDR): Happens when the die gets stamped multiple times at different angles during creation – like a shadow with clear separation
• Machine Doubling: Occurs during striking when dies shift slightly, creating flat, smeared-looking duplicates

I’ll never forget the relief when I finally saw examples side-by-side. True doubling looks sculpted, while machine doubling resembles a ghost image.

Step 1: Taking Photos That Don’t Lie to You

How I Stopped Fighting With My Camera

My first twenty blurry shots taught me these non-negotiable rules:

1. Switch to macro mode (it’s usually that little flower icon on your phone)
2. Fill the frame completely – your coin should touch all four edges in the viewfinder
3. Tap to focus manually on the area you’re checking (for me, Lincoln’s cheekbone)
4. Use two desk lamps at 45-degree angles – shadows hide crucial details
5. Zoom with your feet, not the camera – get physically closer

Step 2: Hunting Smart, Not Hard

I wasted weeks checking random coins before learning this:

• Bookmark VarietyVista – their comparison tool saved my sanity
• Focus on “hot” dates – for 1969-S cents, only three genuine DDO varieties exist
• Study mint marks – San Francisco coins behave differently than Philadelphia strikes

Step 3: Solving My Two Biggest Mysteries

The Case of the Missing Triangle

What looked like a missing chunk near Lincoln’s collar turned out to be:

• Normal wear from fifty years of pocket travel
• A common artifact of the minting process for this year
• Completely unrelated to die cracks or breaks

Lincoln’s “Funny Face” Explained

Those weird facial distortions? Totally normal because:

• Weak strikes were common at the San Francisco mint in 1969
• Die polishing marks can create optical illusions
• No documented doubled dies affect the facial features this way

Step 4: When to Call in Reinforcements

Here’s how I tapped into the collector community without looking foolish:

1. Found exact matches in the Cherrypickers’ Guide reference book
2. Posted crystal-clear photos on CoinCommunity.com with specific questions
3. Sent close-ups to a local coin shop owner via email
4. Learned grading services charge more than my coin was worth

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier

• Lead with date and mint mark – “1969-S” opens more doors than “weird penny”
• Spend $15 on a jeweler’s loupe before claiming any discovery
• 90% of “errors” are just damage – that dent isn’t a minting flaw
• The thrill is in the hunt – enjoy studying coins regardless of value

My Coin Was Worth 1 Cent – Here’s Why I’m Thrilled

That 1969-S cent? Worth exactly face value. But what I gained was priceless: the skills to examine coins properly. While you might find that rare doubled die someday, the real jackpot is learning to separate hope from reality. Now when I examine coins, I see details I never noticed before – and that makes every coin fascinating, whether it’s worth a dollar or a thousand.

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