1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-023

Description

Recorded under die markers UVC-2049 and DMR-047, the 1962 Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent DDO-023 exhibits a medium spread on the date — a level of hub doubling intensity that places it between the light spreads that characterize many of the neighboring proof DDO entries and the strong spreads found on the most prominent varieties in the series. The medium classification typically indicates that the secondary image is detectable at 7x to 8x magnification under proper lighting conditions, though on proof surfaces the high contrast between mirrored fields and frosted design elements can aid detection at slightly lower power. This variety was struck from proof dies prepared at the Philadelphia Mint for the 1962 proof set program, which produced 3,218,019 sets — each containing a cent, nickel, dime, quarter, and half dollar struck to the proof standard. The die production process for proof coins involved the same hubbing sequence as business-strike dies, meaning the opportunity for hub misalignment existed at every stage regardless of the die's intended end use; the only distinction was that proof dies received additional polishing and preparation after hubbing, treatments that enhanced surface quality but did nothing to correct any doubling already embedded in the die's design. Collectors examining 1962 proof cents for DDO-023 should focus on the date numerals at moderate magnification, looking for a secondary outline or shelf that is more pronounced than a light spread but less immediately obvious than the strong spreads found on varieties like DDO-017 and DDO-020.

Die Markers

• UVC-2049; DMR-047

External References