1955 1C Doubled Die Obverse, RB MS(PCGS#2826)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3021

Grade

MS66RB

Price

19,200

Lot Description

Far more lustrous than the typically encountered Mint State 1955 DDO cent, this impressive piece exhibits undertones of gold, pink, and apricot iridescence to otherwise gray-brown surfaces. Expertly preserved, as well, there is not even a single detracting blemish in evidence. A bold strike is also noted and further enhances the desirability of this special coin.<p>If numismatists and non-collectors alike are asked what is the most famous error or variety of American coin, odds are the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse would be among the first mentioned. When the dies for the 1955 cents were being produced, one was given two blows from the hub, but the second blow was out of register, causing the devices to show up as two distinct impressions, most plain in the lettering and date. Despite the clear doubling on the die, it went unnoticed and was pressed into service. To compound the original error, the dies were placed roughly 5% out of normal alignment with each other, a subtle and often overlooked feature of all genuine specimens. About 40,000 cents were struck before a Mint employee noticed the defect and removed the die from service and had the coins currently in a hopper behind the press destroyed. However, only about 20,000 pieces were in that bin; roughly 24,000 cents had already been removed and mixed into several bags with coins produced from other presses. The Mint figured that little notice would be paid and sent them out to the Federal Reserve Banks for distribution. The sacks of coins with the 1955 Doubled Die cents went primarily to Boston, as well as Western Massachusetts and the towns of Endicott, Johnson City, and Binghamton in New York State. Among these, a number became "cigarette pack" cents; a pack of cigarettes cost 23¢, so two cents would be placed in the cellophane wrapper with the cigarette pack as change for a quarter.<p>Initially the coins entered circulation unnoticed as the Mint had hoped, but soon the coins came to the attention of Q. David Bowers and Jim Ruddy of the Empire Coin Company in Johnson City. The rush was on and the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse cent became a numismatic legend. In a fascinating postscript to the story, in 2010 Richard Snow discovered an unquestionably genuine specimen with surface marks that bear the tell-tale signs that the obverse die was removed from the press to remove clash marks. This suggests that not only did the die enter use, but it was later removed, abraded to remove clash marks, then put back into service, even with the plainly visible doubling. Despite its fame, the 1955 Doubled Die Obverse still has some secrets to tell.<p>While a number found their way into circulation, quite a few were retrieved before they could obtain much wear - the issue is seldom found below EF. Despite this, most extant Mint State specimens are either MS-63 or MS-64. Specimens at the Gem level are extremely rare and seldom encountered. The present example is not only the single finest certified in the Red and Brown category, but it also represents one of the four finest grading events for the variety. The other three are in MS-66 RD and two in MS-68 RD, all at NGC. The NGC MS-66 RD last sold at auction in August 2006 (at Superior); an MS-68 does not appear to have ever sold at auction in the modern market. The MS-66 RB offered here returns to the auction market for the first time since selling in our February 2014 Americana Sale. For collectors of the finest Lincoln cents, as well as advanced specialists in U.S. Mint varieties, the fleeting nature of this offering can hardly be overstated.