1971 RPM?

If you see the same doubling on the date and the mint mark, then it's 100% Machine Doubling

The mark above the lower loop is part of a bent punch. If you look at several of the S mint coins from that year, it will show up on most of them. They disappear when they get a new punch. But Machine Doubling (not mechanical) can be seen on variety coins. It depends on the looseness of the machine and if either die is a variety. I have one coin that is a DDR that is 1/2 machine doubled and the opposite 1/2 a doubled die. Split right up the middle. So both can happen on the same coin. But on the image above, it is just Machine Doubling.

Kurt said, " Yeah...generally that's true, but I do think it's possible to have a MD coin that also bears an RPM."

I was wondering about that, too; because the doubling is both north and south on the outside, based on the pictures posted. That's a curiosity to me.

Jim

It is absolutely possible to have a die variety that ALSO has Machine Doubling. It's also possible for a die variety to be struck off-center or on a clipped planchet and be a die variety AND error at the same time. This goes to PROVE that die varieties and errors are DIFFERENT.

I believe there's a published photograph of a broadstruck 1972 DDO that's the size of a quarter. Although the DDO is a die#3 and is less valuable and more common than the stronger doubled dies for the year, it's still VERY unusual for something like that to come out on an error coin.

My only "die variety/error" is an off-center example of 1951D RPM#1. It's about 20% off center, but the RPM shows nicely.

And yes, I have many examples of die varieties that are machine doubled. I usually try to skip over them or leave them behind, because to me, Machine Doubling is coin damage and detracts from the die variety...they are undesirable.