PART IV. Die Errors:
Die Deterioration / Deformation errors:
Die Deterioration Doubling:
Definition: Die deterioration (die wear, die fatigue) sometimes produces discernible doubling of affected design elements. We call this die deterioration doubling (DDD). Its appearance is highly variable. It is often raised but can sometimes be incuse. Incuse DDD is most often seen on copper-plated zinc cents, but does occasionally appear in other issues. Die deterioration doubling may completely surround an affected design element (like a number or letter) or may be restricted to one side.
One of the more infamous examples of die deterioration doubling appeared in 1955 when working dies for the Lincoln cent were not replaced in a timely manner.
The doubling formed on the last digit (5) of the date and in extreme examples, the last two digits of the date (55).
The true 1955 doubled die cent neither resembles nor is related to this very common effect. However, since it occurred in the same year as the famous doubled die cent, this common form of doubling was christened the “poor man’s double die” and used as a space-filler for the true 1955 doubled die. Similar doubling of the last digit can be found in Lincoln cents from 1947, 1948, and 1953.
The image below shows die deterioration doubling on a 1999-P Jefferson nickel.
