When you look at a coin, do you do it systematticly? I usually look at all coins in the same fashion. Date/mint mark/LIBERTY/Ear/Eyelid/Motto.
Keeping in mind which date the coin is and mint mark. I then proceed to the reverse:
On certain years the reverse search is different:
Post 1986 Cents:
I looks at the Statue/steps/bays/EPU/AME on AMERICA. Lastly checking for trails
On post 1959-1985 Cents I check the outside digits of the entire reverse/EPU/bays.
1909-1958:
I check the EPU/wheat lines/grains/stems/central devices.
So depending on the date, it determines how I search the coin.
So when I check each device, I don't just look to see that years known doubling. I check each device area to and remember what types of doubling can be found on different years on certain devices.
Date: Any doubling of the devices in any direction. (If
Machine Doubling is detected, that raises a red flag for the rest of the coin)
Mint Mark: Is this a year than could have a RPM? Is this a year that could be a doubled die on the date and mint mark?
LIBERTY: Is there doubling below/above the L on LIBERTY? Is there doubling under the letters BE? Are there splits on the upper/lower edges of LIBERTY. Knowing the date will help in know what types of doubling that could be present.
And so on. (Maybe a detailed information with images might be benifial. It would take more time than I have now, but might be an interesting thread in the future.)
So having a system/knowing what to look for/Knowing what could be there helps in searching and it all starts with the date area.