1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse, BN MS(PCGS#2921)

1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse, BN MS (PCGS#2921)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Description du lot: An attractive example of this iconic 20th century rarity in a highly collectible certified grade. The surfaces are dressed in blended autumn and olive-brown and exhibit a hard, frosty texture. The strike is sharp, the devices showing only traces of light high point friction from a short stint in active circulation. Wispy blemishes in the form of tiny marks and a few light carbon spots are confined to the obverse, none of which are particularly worrisome at the assigned grade level.The 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is an extremely desirable variety, having an estimated population of 50 to 60 pieces based on combined certification service statistics. Our estimate may be somewhat liberal, as the experts at PCGS CoinFacts opine "about 30 known." The doubling on this variety is very dramatic, fully matching the spectacular appearance of the well known 1955 and 1972 Doubled Die Obverse varieties, but in the case of the 1969-S, perhaps 100 times rarer. Quoting from Fivaz and Stanton's Cherrypickers' Guide (2015): "The publicity this coin has received over its lifetime has been enormous, hence the very high values, which are well deserved." According to Breen, the variety was independently reported by two collectors in June and July of 1970. The present offering represents a fleeting bidding opportunity for a coin that will serve as a highlight in an advanced Lincoln cent collection.