Before we can understand the differences in the eight different classes of doubled dies, we must first examine how a die is made. This will be a very short history on die making. (This process was used prior to about 1997, when the Mint started using a single "squeeze" hubbing process.)

A coin is first designed in a larger than life model called a Galvano. Once it has been approved for production, a tracing machine (Janvier Transfer Reducing Machine) traces the large positive image (as you would view a coin). It not only reduces the image down to the proper size, but it makes an exact positive image on the end of a blank, cylindrical shaped steel bar.

This steel bar becomes the Master Hub. Usually only one Master Hub was produced.

The Master Hub was then placed in a hydraulic press. A new blank, cylindrical shaped steel bar is placed below the Master Hub in the hydraulic press. The new steel bar was placed in an annealing furnace and heated. It was then allowed to cool at room temperature. This softens the steel, preparing it to be hubbed with the Master Hub. Then the Master Hub was pressed into the blank steel with several hundred tons of pressure. This process may be repeated several times before the Master Die has the fine detail of the Master Hub.

If at any time after the first hubbing, the Master Die and the Master Hub art not lined up properly before the next hubbing, you will have a doubled image on the die. It is this doubled image on the DIE that produces the doubled died coins.

The Master Die has the reverse image of the Master Hub (negative image). Usually only two Master Dies are produced.

The negative Master Die is now used to produce Working Hubs in the same way the Master Die was produced. The Working Hubs have the positive image because they were made from the negative images on the Master Die. Several Working Hubs are produced at this time. Remember, each step takes several hubbings, heating and cooling. Which means a doubled die can be produced anywhere in this process.

The Working Hubs are then used to produce the negative image on the Working Dies. Many Working Dies are produced, because the Working Die produces the coins. Remember, the Working Dies have a negative image. Thus you view the positive image on the coin.

When the doubling occurs toward the beginning of the hubbing process, more coins will be affected by the doubling. If the doubling occurs during the Master Die process, then all Working Hubs would have the same doubling.

Before we jump into the different classes, let me take a minute and related to some simple english grammer.

If we say "Tom liked the movie.", it is past tense. Tom has already seen the movie. If we say, "Jane enjoyed her vacation.", it is again past tense. The act of enjoying has already happened.

The same is true with a "Doubled Die" coin. The act is past tense. The double image is in the die before it strikes the coin.

This is the mother of all doubled dies. Chariest by everyone that has one, the 1955 P Lincoln cent, Die 1. An MS 64 Red recently sold for over $14,000.

Class I	Class II
Class III	Class IV
Class V	Class VI
Class VII	Class VIII