1916-D Lincoln Cent - D/D NE Question

I finally finished searching through my 1916-D "junk box." I found another mystery in the box, while searching for the Wexler D/D NE (WRPM-001).

A little background for my questions. The WRPM-001 D/D NE is itself a mystery. First, I have never seen one grading above VG. That's odd. Second, the plugged mint mark suggests a later die state. Where are the earlier die state coins? Third, there are other plugged mint mark 1916-D cents that clearly are not the WRPM-001, some with the mm punched in different locations than the WRPM-001. As background for my mystery coin, here is what I believe to be a WRPM-001 D/D NE:


Now the mystery coin:


. . . and a closeup of the mystery coin's mint mark:


Questions:
1. Am I seeing things (which is definitely possible!), or is the vertical bar of the D doubled?
2. If the vertical bar of the D is doubled, does this look like a RPM?
3. If it is a RPM, is it an earlier die state of the WRPM-001? If so, where is the evidence of the top of the secondary D to the NE?
4. Or is it something new and different, possibly D/D East?

If it is something new, I have a second possible coin, although it is far too worn to be sure, and deep into shrapnel territory. Both coins, however, exhibit what I think may be a possible die marker SSE of the mint mark, next to the rim. It appears to be a die gouge. It is also readily visible on the second, much more worn, specimen. Here is a photo of the mystery coin, showing the gouge and its location in relationship to the D and the rim:


What does everyone think? Thank you in advance for any help and thoughts.