1953 P Lincoln Cent - MD Or DDO

That is die wear. Very common on the 1950s wheat cents as they over used them.

Nope, that's actually Die Deterioration Doubling from a worn out die. The 1950's were notorious for heavy die wear as they would overuse the dies beyond there normal retirement. Also known as a "Poor Man's Doubled Die" (not a Doubled Die, just Die Deterioration Doubling caused by extreme die wear) on the 1955 LWC's since this was a replacement coin for the big and valuable 1955 LWC DDO The "Poor Man's Doubled Die" is worth face value since it's very common and it's just heavy die wear. http://www.error-ref.com/die-deteri...on-doubling/

Thanks E&V, DDD is easy to catch on the zinc LCs, it's these well defined DDD's that throw me for a loop

Looks like DDD to me. Also known as a poor mans doubled die like the 1955.
John1

Die wear (which your coin has) always affects the devices on the device it self moving towards the closest rim. On the Wheat cents, Date on the right, die wear on the right side of the closest devices near the rim.

On Liberty, the Die wear will be on the left side of the devices, with the strongest affected ones on the 'L', beings it is closest to the rim.

On the Motto, the devices on the tops of the motto will be affected towards the rim direction usually just on the tops of the devices.




On Die Deterioration which affects just the fields of the devices because of the lower profile and the single squeeze die process it affect the fields near the devices in the same directions: