Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/27/2007

Question
1.  I need a description of the defect on a 1964 D Roosevelt dime double die.  While the red book list prices it doesn't provide a description of the defect.  I have a coin that appears to have a double die on the back of the mint mark, but otherwise appears normal.

2.  While grading old barber head dimes I came across an 1892 barber dime that looks normal on the front, but on the back it has the capital building instead of the normal wrathand & lettering.  The back side has no letters or numbers, just the well defined capital building.

Your help is much appreciated and thanks in advance./Steve Smietana


Answer
Hello Steve,             

It seems I can only help with the first part of your question.  I have not heard of a piece you describe as having the Capital Building on the reverse with a barber dime obverse.
Try comparing the weight of it to the normal barber dime it should be 2.5 grams and 17.9 mm round with a reeded edge. Get back to me with the results and I will ask some associates.

I can answer the other part for you though.
The Doubled Die Reverse error for the 1964 Roosevelt dime is easily seen with a magnifier on the reverse looking at the letters in the word DIME.
The Leading edge of each letter is fully doubled as is the serif (the point where the letter style just out slightly at the points of the letter form).
It first may look like machine doubling that is a shelf-like shape on the letters but it would not show doubling on the serif part.

here is a good web page describing the difference between  hub doubling and machine doubling.:
http://www.geocities.com/NCADD/educational1.html

I hope this information Helps.

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Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack