1921-S Lincoln Cent Strike Doubling

[Verify-12]

Here's a 1921-S (San Francisco Mint) Lincoln Cent.  It's a nice early example of strike doubling (machine doubling), and a more extreme example than is normally found on most early Lincoln Cents.

[Figleaf]

I general, "double strikes" are caused by setting the press at a pressure that is too high. However, since only the date seems to be concerned, it would be logical if in this case the cause is a date punch that was used a bit too forcefully to complete the die.

Peter

[Thulium]

This is a good example of strike doubling, as opposed to a doubled die. Notice how the doubling cuts into the normal thickness of the numbers? That's because the coin shifted during strike, cutting into the digits and letters on the coin being struck. For Lincoln cents, the date was on the hub, and errors when hubbing the die caused a doubled die--thicker dates and letters on the struck coin.

[brandm24]

You've explained that very well. This example is quite dramatic and very appealing to a collector for that reason.

Bruce