1876-CC Trade $ DDR CC Coin of the Week 1-10-10

Thank you Drummer! Hey did you catch Ringo Star on the Jimmy Fallon show last night?

Belay Off

GN,

Thank you for the compliments but I have a long ways to go before my writing merits such accolades.

I must give Rusty the credit for locating the coin and my software the credit for adding a little more punch for the primary photo image. The coin is fantastic in person using good lighting and a quality loop, but does not always show its luster in a photograph...thus the added help.

As to the degree of doubling, look at the stems and arrows area closely. The spacing between the actual device feature and the doubled feature is many times greater than that of the '55 lincoln cent. I understand that it's not as easy to tell in the images I've provided, but I would recommend that you seek one out yourself and examine it first hand.

By the way, if you like the '55 DDO cent, you'll fall over when you see the 1972 DDO...it blows the '55 away!

Thanks for your comments GN,

Belay Off

John,

Thanks for the great questions. When I originally researched the coin I was able to contact several experts who ultimately provided great perspective on the '76-CC DDR $T. Of course, I started with my numis-mentor, Rusty Goe who suggested that I contact a specific T$ expert, Joe Kirchgessner.

Joe was very patient and generous with his answers to this amateur's questions and we ultimately covered a lot of ground. Joe opines that the error was caused when the master hub was being employed to make the production hubs (dies).

I have also studied the many different ways that doubling can occur. If we accept Joe's hypothesis as the most likely scenario, then what happened was likely pretty straight forward. When a master hub is used to make a production/working hub, the production hub must be struck by the master several times. At some point after the first strike(s), the production die shifted a few millimeters and was then struck one more time, causing the secondary devices in softer relief than the primary features. Fortunately for us CC collectors, this working die found itself in the box headed for Nevada.

Regarding the total number of '76-CC DDR Trade Dollars in existence, I actually used the more conservative estimates in my article. In an email communication with Bruce Morelan, (handle- Trade Dollar Nut) he wrote that "1/4 to 1/3 of all '76-CC T$ are the DDR variety. He admits to your point John, that this is unusual for an error coin.

Belay Off

Hey Bruce

I missed old Ringo last night I'm sorry to say. He is one of the unheralded greats of all-time. Ringo is a master of tasteful drumming and has an instinct for playing just the right thing. he's also an all-around good guy!

I love that beautiful 1876-CC trade $ DDR of yours!

Michael the drummer

Thanks Belay. I have both of those Lincolns, so I am happy about that...

Mike, you heard Ringo's latest, didnt you, where he says

"Peace and love, peace and love, I will not be signing any autographs after such and such a date. Anything received will be thrown away. I am too busy..." What could Ringo be doing that he is so busy?? :laugh: :laugh: