By Ken Potter, World Coin News November 23, 2009

Curtis Miller of California sent in a batch of world varieties that we started looking at in the September installment of this column, and I promised to continue examining for the next few months. This month his first coin is a Bulgarian 1974 2 stotinki that shows light to very strong hub doubling (commonly referred to as a doubled die by collectors) on the entire legend about the rim and within the Bulgarian coat of arms. It’s particularly strong on the lion. I listed it for Curtis in the Variety Coin Register for the country, date and denomination as a new listing to my files on Oct. 9, 2008, as VCR#1/DDO#1.

His second coin is a Belgium-Belgique (French Legend) 1963 5 francs. Strong hub doubling can be seen on the date, stars on either side of the date, designer’s initials (or name?) “RAU” at the base of bust, the right edge of the base of bust, eyelid, nose and upper lip. A higher grade might confirm hub doubling within the upper wheat sheaf extending toward the rim about 10:30 o’clock and/or other doubling. It was newly listed on Oct. 9, 2008, as VCR#1/DDO#1.

This one is very similar to the 1963 Belgium-Belgie (Dutch Legend) franc that I showed in the last installment of this column and highlights the fact that this is a good date to search for doubled dies on all denominations from Belgium – as is 1962 for those who are inclined to look.

Next is a German – Third Reich 1936-D 5 reichsmark. The obverse shows strong multiple hubbings (three or four images) on the entire inscription about the rim, on the date, eagle’s tongue and some wing feathers. Light to medium doubling can be seen on some of the eagle’s talons and lower beak. The “5” of the denomination displays some strike doubling that should not be confused with the hub doubling. (Strike doubling is technically a form of damage to the coin from die-bounce as it is being ejected from the press.) The “D” mintmark on the reverse exhibits a hub break and, as a result, is partially weak to missing in some areas. Newly listed on Oct. 9, 2008, as VCR#1/DDO#1(3 or 4).

Not to be outdone by any country when it comes to massive doubled dies, Brazil continues into the 21st century by churning out one massive doubled die after another with dozens already known within the last decade that easily rival and often surpass the strength of the U.S. 1955 doubled die cent. The latest one to come in from Miller is on a 2002 5-centavos piece. It boasts a very strong doubled die obverse that shows best on BRASIL, the point of star to the right of the L of BRASIL, the wing feathers and top of the bird’s head. Clash marks from the date show well on the reverse within the star. Listed on Oct. 9, 2008, as VCR#1/DDO#1.

Jumping over to the other side of the globe, his next coin is a Chinese Kwangtung Province 1890-1908 20 cents that displays strong doubling on KWANG-TUNG PROVINCE, on the top of the dragon’s head and right claw. Light to medium doubling can be seen in some other areas of the dragon motif, MACE, and “AND” and “REENS” of CANDAREENS. Newly listed on Oct. 9, 2008, as VCR#1/DDR#1.

Returning to Germany, we finalize this installment of our visit into Miller’s world of doubled dies with a look at a German Weimar Republic 1925-J 1 reichsmark piece. Moderate to strong doubling is discernible on DEUTSCHES REICH and the eagle’s upper beak. Light doubling is exhibited on some of the eagle’s talons, on the right claw and flower below. Even lighter doubling is seen on the left claw. The date shows strike doubling, but there may be hub doubling below it that can be viewed on specimens free of this affliction. Other doubling is probably discernible on higher grades. Newly listed on 10/09/08 as VCR#1/DDO#1.

Hub doubling is possible due to a phenomenon known as work hardening. This causes the metal of the face of a die to become too hard and too brittle to allow a complete image to be sunk into the die in one operation without causing it to crack or shatter (during the multiple hubbing process). As a result, several impressions or hubbings are required to produce a die when using this process. Between each hubbing the die is removed from the press and annealed (softened), thus allowing for another impression without shattering the die. If for some reason a partially finished die is reinstalled into a press for strengthening and the hub and die is improperly indexed – resulting in a misalignment of images – or if the hub varies in design from the one(s) used for earlier impressions, hub doubling will result. The multiple hubbing process was replaced by a number of countries in recent years by the more modern “single squeeze” restrained hubbing process.



Ken Potter is the official attributer and lister of world doubled dies for the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America and for the National Collector’s Association of Die Doubling. He privately lists U.S. doubled dies and other collectible variety types on both U.S. and world coins in the Variety Coin Register. For more information, send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope and 61 cents to Ken Potter, P.O. Box 760232, Lathrup Village, MI 48076-0232. Contact him by e-mail at Kpotter256@aol.com, or visit www.koinpro.com.

More Resources:

• Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes 4-CD Set, 1782-1866

• Fascinating Facts, Mysteries & Myths About U.S. Coins

• 2010 Standard Catalog of World Coins 2001-Date, 4th Edition

• State Quarters Deluxe Collector's Folder