1989 DDR Penny (Newbie Finds)

Is there something you're seeing that makes you think it's a DDR? I am seeing MD.

Easiest way to tell them apart in my opinion is to use a reference site like Wexler's die varieties or variety vista to compare to. Since doubled dies are die varieties, every coin struck with a particular die will have identical doubling, and just about any doubled die you're likely to encounter for any given year is most likely documented already. It's usually pretty unlikely that MD will match up with all the places where there would have been doubling on a genuine doubled die variety, but, in the rare cases when it does, the main thing that distinguishes MD from doubling is that MD will be flat and shelf like (since it's caused by the fields of the die flattening areas that should have been raised), and the devices will be reduced rather than enlarged by the doubling.

Keep posting! We were all in your shoes once (only about a year ago for me!). Best way to learn is to post your finds and have people explain why it is or isn't anything. Eventually you start to see the difference and you find you don't need to post as frequently because you can identify more of the nothing coins on your own and only post the real deals. Here are two great resources for doubled die listings - Wexler's: https://doubleddie.com/228401.html and variety vista: http://varietyvista.com/index.htm

There are numerous topics and references on this site for you to read and learn, type it in the search bar on the left.
Hers is one example:
http://goccf.com/t/260679