1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Penny Value & Price Guide (2026)

Coins

Lost Dutchman Rare Coins, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

You don't need a magnifying glass for this one. The 1955 Doubled Die penny is the most dramatic die error in American coinage - the date, "LIBERTY," and "IN GOD WE TRUST" are visibly doubled, and you can see it with your naked eye from arm's length. About 20,000 to 24,000 slipped into circulation during a single night shift at the Philadelphia Mint. Today, even a well-worn example sells for around $790. Uncirculated? Up to $18,700.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Wheat Cent
Year	1955
Category	Coins - U.S. Error Cents
Composition	95% copper, 5% tin and zinc
Weight	3.11 grams
Diameter	19mm
Mint	Philadelphia (no mint mark)
Estimated Production	~40,000 struck; 20,000–24,000 entered circulation
Condition Range
Good (G-4)	~$790
Very Good (VG-8)	~$1,064
Fine (F-12)	~$1,244
Very Fine (VF-20)	~$1,523
Extremely Fine (EF-40)	~$1,675
About Uncirculated (AU-50)	~$1,879
Uncirculated (MS-60)	~$5,625
Uncirculated (MS-63)	~$18,707
Record Sale	$114,000 (MS-65 Red, Heritage Auctions)
Rarity	Rare

The Story

It happened on the night shift. Sometime during 1955 production at the Philadelphia Mint, a working die was hubbed twice - with the second impression slightly offset from the first. The result was a die that would strike every coin with dramatic, unmistakable doubling on the entire obverse.

Nobody caught it. About 40,000 pennies were struck from the defective die before it was finally pulled. The coins were bundled with cigarette vending machine change and shipped out. Somewhere between 20,000 and 24,000 made it into circulation.

The error was spotted almost immediately. Collectors started pulling them from change. Newspapers ran stories. People who'd received them from vending machines suddenly had coins worth real money. The 1955 Doubled Die became the most famous error coin in American numismatics overnight.

What makes it special isn't rarity - 20,000+ is a lot compared to the 1943 copper penny's 20–30 survivors. It's the sheer visibility of the error. On most doubled die coins, you need magnification to see the doubling. On the 1955, you can see it from across the room. The date is dramatically doubled. "LIBERTY" shows obvious shadow lettering. "IN GOD WE TRUST" looks like it's vibrating. It's spectacular - and that's what drives its value.

How to Identify It

What You're Looking For

The doubling is on the obverse only - the Lincoln portrait side.

Date "1955": Each digit shows clear, visible doubling. The second impression is offset slightly to the upper right.
"LIBERTY": Every letter shows shadow doubling.
"IN GOD WE TRUST": All letters are doubled.
Lincoln's portrait: Slight doubling on the ear and bow tie.

The Reverse Is Normal

This is important. The reverse (wheat stalks side) shows no doubling. If you see doubling on the reverse, you may have a different variety or a machine-doubled coin.

The "Poor Man's Doubled Die"

Some 1955 pennies show minor mechanical doubling - a less dramatic effect caused by die bounce, not a hub error. These are sometimes called "Poor Man's Doubled Die" coins. They're worth little to nothing extra.

How to tell the difference: True doubled die shows consistent, dramatic doubling across all obverse text and date. The doubling goes in the same direction on every element. Mechanical doubling is typically flat, shelf-like, and inconsistent.

If you can easily read both images of every letter and every digit from a normal viewing distance - that's the real one.

Value by Condition

Grade	Description	Value
G-4 (Good)	Heavy wear, doubling still visible	~$790
VG-8 (Very Good)	Moderate wear, doubling clear	~$1,064
F-12 (Fine)	Even wear, all features readable	~$1,244
VF-20 (Very Fine)	Light wear on high points	~$1,523
EF-40 (Extremely Fine)	Slight wear, strong details	~$1,675
AU-50 (About Uncirculated)	Trace wear, some luster	~$1,879
MS-60 (Mint State)	No wear, may have marks	~$5,625
MS-63 (Choice)	Minimal marks, good eye appeal	~$18,707
MS-65 Red (Gem)	Near-perfect, original red color	$50,000 – $114,000

Why the Jump from AU to MS?

The price nearly triples from AU-50 ($1,879) to MS-60 ($5,625). This is typical for popular error coins - the moment there's zero wear, value spikes. Most of these coins circulated for years before being recognized, so true mint state examples are scarce relative to demand.

Color Designations

Like all copper coins, the 1955 DDO is graded with color: Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), or Red (RD). Red examples - those retaining most of their original copper color - are the most valuable. An MS-63 Red commands far more than an MS-63 Brown.

Authentication & Fakes

What to Watch For

Mechanical doubling vs. hub doubling. The most common "fake" isn't a counterfeit - it's a misidentified coin. Many 1955 pennies show minor machine doubling that looks slightly doubled. The real 1955 DDO is dramatically doubled. If you need magnification to see it, it's probably not the real thing.

Outright counterfeits. Some fakes are cast or struck from copy dies. Check:

Weight: Should be exactly 3.11 grams
Details: Cast copies often have mushy, poorly defined features
Edge: Look for seam lines or unusual textures

Added doubling. Some fakes involve mechanically or chemically creating artificial doubling on a normal 1955 penny. The doubling will look inconsistent or unnatural compared to genuine examples.

Professional Grading

PCGS and NGC both readily identify and certify genuine 1955 DDO cents. For any example - even circulated - professional certification is worthwhile. It confirms authenticity and establishes grade, both of which matter enormously at resale.

Where to Sell

Circulated Examples ($790 – $1,900)

eBay - Strong market for certified 1955 DDO cents
Heritage Auctions - Good for higher-circulated grades
Local coin shows - Quick sale, but expect wholesale pricing

Uncirculated Examples ($5,000+)

Heritage Auctions - Best venue for high-grade examples
Stack's Bowers - Strong track record with error coins
Great Collections - Online-focused, good buyer pool

Always certify first. A PCGS or NGC slab confirms this is the genuine doubled die, not mechanical doubling. That confirmation is worth thousands in buyer confidence.

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Common Questions

How much is a 1955 doubled die penny worth?

In Good condition, about $790. In Very Fine, about $1,523. Uncirculated examples start at about $5,625 (MS-60) and reach $18,707+ at MS-63. Gem MS-65 Red examples have sold for over $100,000.

How can I tell if my 1955 penny is the doubled die?

Look at the date and "LIBERTY" on the obverse. If they're dramatically doubled - visible without magnification - you likely have the real thing. The doubling should be consistent across all obverse lettering. If you need a magnifying glass to see it, it's probably mechanical doubling, which isn't valuable.

How many 1955 doubled die pennies exist?

About 20,000 to 24,000 entered circulation from an estimated production run of 40,000. Many have been found over the decades, but survivors in uncirculated condition are scarce.

Is the 1955 doubled die penny rare?

It's rare compared to normal pennies but relatively common compared to extreme rarities like the 1943 copper penny (20–30 known). About 20,000+ exist. What drives its value isn't pure scarcity - it's the dramatic visual impact combined with strong collector demand.

What's the difference between a doubled die and machine doubling?

A doubled die is caused by a misaligned hub impression on the die itself - every coin from that die shows the same doubling. Machine doubling (also called "strike doubling") happens during the striking process and produces flat, shelf-like doubling that's much less dramatic. Only the hub-doubled variety has significant value.