--- title: "1955 Doubled Die Penny Value: What a Real One Is Worth" description: "The 1955 doubled die obverse Lincoln cent is the most famous US error coin. Values by grade, how to spot it, and how to avoid the common fakes." canonical: https://dimehound.app/coins/1955-doubled-die-penny-value/ author: Mike Moore published: 2026-10-08 modified: 2026-10-08 values_checked: Oct 8, 2026 --- # 1955 Doubled Die Penny Value: What a Real One Is Worth By Mike Moore. Published Oct 8, 2026. Updated Oct 8, 2026. Canonical page: https://dimehound.app/coins/1955-doubled-die-penny-value/ A genuine 1955 doubled die penny is worth about $790 even in worn Good condition and around $1,500 to $1,900 in Very Fine to About Uncirculated. Uncirculated examples run from about $5,600 to $18,700 and up. Most 1955 pennies are normal and worth a few cents, and this error is heavily faked. - **How many:** Mint records indicate about 40,000 were struck, and an estimated 20,000 to 24,000 were released. - **Mint mark:** None. Every 1955 doubled die is from Philadelphia. A 1955-D or 1955-S is not this variety. - **What is doubled:** The date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The back is normal. ## Value by grade **1955 doubled die obverse cent retail values** | Grade | Value | | --- | --- | | Good (G4) | $790 | | Very Good (VG8) | $1,064 | | Fine (F12) | $1,244 | | Very Fine (VF20) | $1,523 | | Extremely Fine (EF40) | $1,675 | | About Uncirculated (AU50) | $1,879 | | Uncirculated (MS60) | $5,625 | | Choice Uncirculated (MS63) | $18,707 | Retail values from USA Coin Book. At the top end, a PCGS MS65+RD example sold for $287,156.25 at GreatCollections in January 2023 (PCGS). Values checked Oct 8, 2026. ## What to look for - The doubling is bold. You can see two sets of numbers in the date and two outlines on every letter of LIBERTY without a magnifier. - There is no mint mark under the date. - The back of the coin shows normal wheat stalks with no doubling. ## Fakes and lookalikes - This is one of the most counterfeited US coins. Cast copies often have mushy details, the wrong color, or seams on the edge. - Machine doubling (also called strike doubling) makes flat, shelf-like ghost edges. On the real thing each doubled letter is fully formed and rounded. - At these prices, buy only coins certified by PCGS or NGC. ## Find my keepers Dime Hound is a coin scanner for iPhone and Android. Join the waitlist at https://dimehound.app/coins/1955-doubled-die-penny-value/#keepers and we'll email you once, the day it launches. ## FAQ ### How can I tell if my 1955 penny is a doubled die? Look at the date and LIBERTY. On the real coin the doubling is obvious to the naked eye and every letter is doubled. If you need a strong loupe to see it, it is almost certainly not the 1955 doubled die. ### Is a 1955-D penny a doubled die? No. The famous 1955 doubled die has no mint mark. Normal 1955-D and 1955-S pennies are common. ### What is a normal 1955 penny worth? A few cents in circulated condition. USA Coin Book lists the regular 1955 at about 6 to 18 cents in Fine to About Uncirculated. ### Should I get my 1955 doubled die graded? Yes. If it shows bold doubling, send it to PCGS or NGC. A certified coin sells for far more than a raw one because buyers know it is real. ## Related coins - [1969-S Doubled Die Penny Value: Is Yours the Rare One?](https://dimehound.app/coins/1969-s-doubled-die-penny-value/) - [1972 Doubled Die Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1972-doubled-die-penny-value/) - [1995 Doubled Die Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1995-doubled-die-penny-value/) - [Wheat Penny Value: Which 1909 to 1958 Pennies Are Worth Money](https://dimehound.app/coins/wheat-penny-value/) - [1909-S VDB Penny Value: What the Key Date Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1909-s-vdb-penny-value/) ## Sources 1. [USA Coin Book, Lincoln wheat cent values](https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/small-cents/lincoln-wheat-cent/) 2. [PCGS CoinFacts, 1955 1C Doubled Die Obverse](https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2825) Values are retail estimates or recorded sale prices from the sources above, checked Oct 8, 2026. What a dealer pays you is usually less than retail.