1970-S Doubled Die Obverse DDO-025

Description

Struck as a proof from the Large Date obverse die variety ODV-025, DDO-025 on the 1970-S Lincoln Memorial cent exhibits light spread doubling on LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and the date. Cataloged as UVC-3425 and DMR-040 in the VarietyVista attribution system, this variety falls within the long sequence of 1970-S doubled die obverses that reflects the San Francisco Mint's dual role in 1970 — producing both business strikes and proof coins from separate die preparation lines, each subject to its own hubbing anomalies. The light spread classification places DDO-025 among the subtler doubled dies for this date, where the secondary hub impression shifted only marginally from the primary impression before the die was hardened for production. On proof specimens, the mirrored fields and frosted devices can actually aid detection of light doubling: the contrast between the deeply mirrored surface and any extra thickness on letter edges is more pronounced than on business strike surfaces where luster and bag marks compete for attention. Collectors examining proof 1970-S Large Date cents should focus magnification on the serifs of LIBERTY and the crossbar of the T in TRUST, where even light spread tends to register as a visible shelf or extra line of metal along the letter's edge.

Die Markers

• UVC-3425; DMR-040

External References