Am I blind, confused, or just plain stupid...how do y'all tell a double die?!

[Brooklynwynter]

Hi y'all,
I have read all the articles, Googled til my eyes almost fell out, and studied every comparison pic out there...but I still can't tell the difference between an Honest Abe, Benedict Arnold machine doubling, and the Holy Grail Double Die. How do you all do it? ? They all look so similar, it is driving me nuts! Lol I can't decipher between coins to keep and the fish to throw back.
If you have some secret insider hints to help me keep my sanity for my kids to hoard, I'd be forever grateful! ;-) Thank you!!

[jallengomez]

Brooklyn,

It's an experiential learning curve. We've all been through it. As it sounds like you are finding out, you can read all the articles you can get your hands on, but the ability to tell the difference is ultimately going to come from having examined in hand many doubled dies and other forms of doubling. Post all you find here on the forum and we will help you with the reasons why one is or is not a doubled die. You may have already read it, but this is one of the best visual tutorials on the differences-

http://www.lincolncentforum.com/forum/showthread.php?6528-Machine-Doubling-%28MD%29

[grnwavdav]

I agree! It takes time to train your eyes. True hub doubling will have a rounded look to the doubled anomaly compared to the "shelf-like" or "step-like" machine doubling.

We all went through what you are experiencing. Please, keep posting pictures with your questions - keep studying known examples on different sites and this forum - and don't give up. You will get there.

[duece2seven]

Here are my tips for beginners:
1. I know you've read alot but keep reading. You cannot study too much! Knowledge equals results in this game.

2. Buy yourself some cheap, circulated examples of all the different types of varieties. Once you've viewed some examples in hand, the pictures you've studied will start to make sense.

3. Buy good equipment to search with! If you're using bad optics, I can assure you that you will have poor results.

4. Search.....alot!!!!! Once you've learned what to look for, it will take some time for your brain to recognize what you're seeing. The more you search the more you see.

And, finally, don't give up! The knowledge of this hobby is hard fought. Many of the members here represent some of the best minds in numismatics and they make this look easy. Believe me when I say they paid their dues to gain their knowledge. I cannot think of a more fitting phrase that exemplifies this hobby than "Chance favors the prepared mind!"

[Brooklynwynter]

Thank you all. I will use your suggestions and keep trying. If I can train my brain to function with five kids, hopefully I can wrap it around this too! ;-)

[stoneman227]

A couple related hints

Pick up a cheap coin folder and start a collection of the date and mint range you normally search. This will be the best reference book that you can possibly have for what a normal coin should look like. I still refer back to the folders I put together long ago when I notice a design detail that hadn't caught my eye before. Just think about it , how many detailed closeup photos of normal coins do you see on the Web or in reference books that you can compare your suspect coin to.

Point #2 would be to separate you coins by date before you search. Once you have a pile to go through of a single date your eye can then easily catch the oddball when it passes under your glass.

John

[jfines69]

Hang in there... With 5 kids the brain is trained all you have to do is apply it toward coins... Don't get discouraged... The average person takes being shown 5 times how to do a task correctly before they are able to do that task correctly on their own... Some take more and others take less... You will get it... On a side note - I think I saw your eyes rolling down aisle 5

[WaterSport]

Oh, and in case you do get all the knowledge and experience in identifying MD from true Doubling..it will still mss with your mind!!!! Trust me when I say I have felt your pain.

WS

[Brooklynwynter]

LOL If it takes five times to get it right...that explains my kids. ;-)

[Brooklynwynter]

Y'all are so nice here on this forum. Thank you! Wish I had found this site months ago!

[BadThad]

Get your terminology correct, it's a doubled die (not double die, no such thing).

[Brooklynwynter]

I apologize, doubled die. Sorry if I offended. I am new to all of this and do not have the proper lingo down quite yet. My mother who was a teacher for 38+ years and all my old Honors English teachers would kill me...so please do not tell them. Shhh... ;-)

[jfines69]

I apologize, doubled die. Sorry if I offended. I am new to all of this and do not have the proper lingo down quite yet. My mother who was a teacher for 38+ years and all my old Honors English teachers would kill me...so please do not tell them. Shhh... ;-)

You know what causes lapses in memory??? Children

[Maineman750]

Just keep in mind that you'll have to do a lot of searching to find your first doubled die.....we don't collect them because they're easy to find

[VAB2013]

I apologize, doubled die. Sorry if I offended. I am new to all of this and do not have the proper lingo down quite yet. My mother who was a teacher for 38+ years and all my old Honors English teachers would kill me...so please do not tell them. Shhh... ;-)

Don't worry, no offense ever taken here, just trying to help people learn. Sometimes the way something is typed sounds harsh but if you could hear the person saying it, it was not meant to be taken in a harsh way at all. That is what I don't like about texting and typing, you loose the feeling behind the words.