1962 Doubled Die Obverse DDO-024

Description

Part of the extensive population of proof doubled die obverse varieties documented for the 1962 Lincoln Memorial Cent, DDO-024 carries a light spread on the date that records a minor hub displacement during the die manufacturing process. Tracked under die markers UVC-2050 and DMR-048, this variety originates from a working die that received its design from a hub that shifted fractionally between successive impressions, embedding a faint secondary image of the date numerals into the die steel. The light classification places the spread at the subtler end of the detection spectrum, where success in identifying the variety depends heavily on the quality of both the specimen and the examination conditions. Proof coins from 1962 were struck on hand-fed planchets that had been specially cleaned and polished before striking, and the dies themselves were polished to produce the brilliant mirror finish that defines the proof format. This meticulous preparation means that proof specimens, when properly preserved, offer the cleanest possible canvas on which to search for fine doubling — but it also means that any surface contamination, hazing, or improper storage that dulls the mirror fields can render a light spread effectively invisible. For collectors building a comprehensive set of 1962 proof DDO varieties, DDO-024 represents one of the attribution challenges that rewards patient technique: working in a quiet environment with a single focused light source, tilting the coin in slow, deliberate arcs, and allowing the date area to cycle through multiple reflection angles until the secondary image either reveals itself or can be confidently ruled out.

Die Markers

• UVC-2050; DMR-048

External References