1973p...DDO or shadows?

[daggit]

Hi, feel a wee foolish but if I don't ask I won't know. I cannot tell (untrained eye) if this is slightly doubled or if its just shadow from bad lighting. I'm using one light source for taking photos, and I'm not sure if it has to do with angle or lighting but at times this coin looks to have doubling and then another look changes my mind. Thought I'd get some opinions.

[coop]

A tip, you can rotate images and see if the lighting show something else. Also try using just one light when taking close images. Secondary lighting can be blocked with a tissue/carboard between the unwanted light. So if you wonder if you are getting unwanted light a quick check would be to place your hand along side the scope to check for secondary lighting. sometimes a second light source may be used, but most of the time it is unwanted.

You coin is a little bright on the top edge, so you might try diffusing your light (If the light source isn't hot) with a plasic grocery bag to diffuse the light. That will keep the edge toward the light from glaring. (It depends on your light source) But there is or appears to be something going on with the bottom left on your numbers. You might take a image with rotating the coin at a different angle to see if there are splits in that area. Waiting for more pictures.... Hoping for the best!

[Dick]

It's hard to tell from the photo, but I agree, Coop, there might be a small notch on the lower-left of the "7". Looks like some MD, aas well.
Dick

[JRocco]

A good general rule that can help many times....

If the coin looks to show some doubling from one angle, but looks completely normal from another angle it is more than likely machine doubled and not hub doubled. Many times you can not see strike or machine doubling from one angle.

Try it with 2 coins....one that you know is a true doubled die coin and one that is strike doubled and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.

[coop]

When I see just one notch on a single coin in a BU roll, I don't get too excited. When I find them on several from the same die in the roll, then I get interested. Why? On a single coin you could just have a very nicely placed bag nick. (damage) When you find several in the same BU roll, then it could be a die issue. But when you see the same notch on more numbers/letters, then I get excited.

[daggit]

Hmmm thanks guys I will take another look.

[eagames]

If you were looking at the nice notch in the center point of the 3 it's normal for 1973 cents.

Certain years like this have something funny but if you look at other cents from the same year you see it on all of them. This along with some years having thicker letters is one reason it helps to sort cents by year then look for varieties so your eye can see what normal is for each year.

[coop]

The 1973 Cents had the best strike on them. Compared to the early 80's reverses that look very poor.

[daggit]

An individual could actually go "nuts" searching Lincolns. I definately need a variety book that I can refer to. I hate to think what I may pass over because I'm not aware it exists.