1906 Error or Variety?

[murphy]

Here's a 1906 Indian that I noticed had some doubling on the back and no less than 3 die cracks. The doubling is best in the left point of the T and the upper and right points on the Shield. These two links are kinda large so that you can zoom in to get a close look. (They take up a lot of space so may not stay on here too long.)

http://home.insightbb.com/~murpht/1906rev2.jpg

http://home.insightbb.com/~murpht/1906rev3.jpg

[coppercoins]

neither error nor variety. This is a normal part of the indian cent design, believe it or not. Look at a few dozen more in EF-AU condition and you'll see the same "doubling" repeated over and over again.

[Robert]

I believe that's "Longacre Doubling".

Look near the bottom of this link:
http://www.surok.addr.com/diedoubling.html

[murphy]

Thanks Chuck, I figured it was machine doubling but wanted a professional opinion.

And Robert, you hit the bullseye with that Longacre article. Thanks a lot. I have got to read the rest of that article!

[coppercoins]

It's not machine doubling, as the technical definition goes.

Machine doubling is a flattening caused by loose dies or some other mechanical malfunction in the coining press. The doubling you showed on your 1906 cent is the effect caused by the edges of letter punches from back in the day when lettering was added to master dies. They are completely different things.