RPMs/Double Strikes/Doubled Dies

[Jim Beam]

I am curious why coins that were double struck or have a repunched mint mark seem to generally have less value than a doubled die produced coin (assuming similar grades). I am learning how each of these situations happen but it just always seems like double strikes and RPMs warrant little if any extra worth when compared to a normal coin and, certainly, far less in value when compared to a doubled die produced coin. Are double strikes and RPMs more common? To me they are aberrations and should fit into the same tier value wise as a doulbed die coin. I appreciate all thoughts and comments and hope to learn from them.

 

[cladking]

Good observation.

 

I suppose there is generally more demand for the doubled dies. DDO's and DDR's ofen have dramatically lower mintages because the mint is far more likely to spot them and more likely to try to remove the coins from the production stream. But each is produced by a single die pair like the RPMs so the highest mintages should be comparable.

 

Major doubled dies do tend to be much scarcer though and this might be most of the reason.

[cpm9ball]

I would think that an RPM would be relatively scarce since only one working die is affected and double strikes even scarcer than that. Maybe DDO's and DDR's have an "aura" about them that just makes them more appealing.

 

Chris

[RWB]

There are hundreds of readily identifiable repunched mintmarks (RPMs), and only a few doubled dies that can be detected without magnification (other than the early US coinage).

 

As for double struck coins, those are mechanical errors, not die errors as are the ones above. Nice double struck coins bring substantial premiums from collectors....certainly much more than RPMs.

 

[Kurtdog]

I am curious why coins that were double struck or have a repunched mint mark seem to generally have less value than a doubled die produced coin (assuming similar grades). I am learning how each of these situations happen but it just always seems like double strikes and RPMs warrant little if any extra worth when compared to a normal coin and, certainly, far less in value when compared to a doubled die produced coin. Are double strikes and RPMs more common? To me they are aberrations and should fit into the same tier value wise as a doulbed die coin. I appreciate all thoughts and comments and hope to learn from them.

You know, Jim, they can really get carried away with these things. I mean, now that they're looking at them through microscopes. I see a nice doubled die, though, or a nicely-spread RPM, I'm turned on. When I can't see it, let somebody else collect it, not impressed.

[Jim Beam]

I am curious why coins that were double struck or have a repunched mint mark seem to generally have less value than a doubled die produced coin (assuming similar grades). I am learning how each of these situations happen but it just always seems like double strikes and RPMs warrant little if any extra worth when compared to a normal coin and, certainly, far less in value when compared to a doubled die produced coin. Are double strikes and RPMs more common? To me they are aberrations and should fit into the same tier value wise as a doulbed die coin. I appreciate all thoughts and comments and hope to learn from them.

You know, Jim, they can really get carried away with these things. I mean, now that they're looking at them through microscopes. I see a nice doubled die, though, or a nicely-spread RPM, I'm turned on. When I can't see it, let somebody else collect it, not impressed.

 

Yes, I agree - there are way too many subtle examples and I do not search for any of these things beyond my 10X. About 25 years ago I did open an original roll of 1943-D Lincolns given to me by my grandmother in 1960 (grandpa was a banker). Just about half of the coins have a very distinctive RPMM and are really neat coins. At first I thought I had hit the "mother load" and had the doubled die version. It just seems like the 1943-D RPMM gets little to no added value when compared to the doubled die variety. This is what made me think about this topic and why I raised the question.

 

Thanks to all who replied and for the information you provided.

[rmpsrpms]

RPMs can have fairly high values as well, especially for certain popular ones. For 1943-D Lincolns, most of the RPMs in BU are worth $20-$30, but RPM #1, which is fairly dramatic, goes for $500-$1000 or more. Generally the more dramatic a variety is, and thus easier to see, the more interest folks have in it. This is true for Doubled Dies as well, as there are many minor Doubled Dies around that are very minor and of interest only to specialists.

[cpm9ball]

You know, Jim, they can really get carried away with these things. I mean, now that they're looking at them through microscopes. I see a nice doubled die, though, or a nicely-spread RPM, I'm turned on. When I can't see it, let somebody else collect it, not impressed.

 

A microscope is useful for posting close-up photos for others to see the variations, and it is also helpful for those of us who can't see that well.

 

I rarely see you posting photos of varieties, and I assume your vision is 20/20. Yes, it probably would be a worthless investment for you, but that is no reason for you to put down those who do use them.

 

Chris

[coinman1794]

I am curious why coins that were double struck or have a repunched mint mark seem to generally have less value than a doubled die produced coin (assuming similar grades). I am learning how each of these situations happen but it just always seems like double strikes and RPMs warrant little if any extra worth when compared to a normal coin and, certainly, far less in value when compared to a doubled die produced coin. Are double strikes and RPMs more common? To me they are aberrations and should fit into the same tier value wise as a doulbed die coin. I appreciate all thoughts and comments and hope to learn from them.

 

In general, Doubled Dies do tend to have an edge in popularity because coins like the 1955 DDO 1C have tipped the scales. However, prices for varieties tend to be similar, when comparing varieties of a similar degrees. There are varying degrees of Doubled Dies and RPMs, and it is very easy to compare a minor RPM and a Major Doubled Die by mistake. The minor Doubled Dies sell for similar prices as many of the minor RPMS; major RPMs and major Doubled Dies sell for similar prices, too. It is arguable whether or not there is an RPM as dramatic as a 1955 DDO 1C, so I would hesitate to use it as a comparison.