1969-S Doubled Die Penny Value: Is Yours the Rare One?
A genuine 1969-S doubled die penny is a major rarity: fewer than 100 are believed to have been struck, and certified examples have sold for $54,625 to $601,875. Almost every 1969-S penny you find is a normal coin worth a few cents. Bold doubling on the date and lettering is required, and the S mint mark is not doubled.
- How many
- Fewer than 100 believed struck (CoinWeek). About 50 have been found so far (PCGS).
- Mint mark
- S, under the date. The S itself is not doubled.
- What is doubled
- The date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, boldly.
Value by grade
| Grade | Price | Sale |
|---|---|---|
| AU55 | $54,625 | Heritage, 2009 |
| MS64 RD | $126,500 | 2008 auction |
| MS66 RD | $601,875 | GreatCollections, Jan 22, 2023 (record) |
Auction results as listed by PCGS CoinFacts. There is no meaningful retail price guide because so few exist. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- The doubling is strong enough to see without magnification on the date and on LIBERTY.
- The S mint mark under the date is single, not doubled.
- Normal 1969-S pennies are extremely common. San Francisco struck hundreds of millions that year.
Fakes and lookalikes
- Machine doubling on 1969-S cents is very common and looks like a flat shelf next to the letters. It adds no value.
- Counterfeit 1969-S doubled die cents were made soon after the variety became known, and fakes still circulate.
- Any 1969-S you think is real needs PCGS or NGC certification before anyone will pay a premium.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
What is a normal 1969-S penny worth?
About face value in circulated condition. USA Coin Book lists the regular 1969-S at $1.24 in MS65 red.
How rare is the 1969-S doubled die?
Very. Fewer than 100 are believed to have been struck, and a few dozen are known.
Is my 1969-S penny a doubled die if the letters look blurry?
Almost certainly not. Blurry or flat doubling is machine doubling. The real coin shows two complete, rounded sets of letters and numbers.
Related coins
Sources
- PCGS CoinFacts, 1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse
- CoinWeek, rare 1969-S DDO Lincoln cent
- USA Coin Book, Lincoln Memorial cent values
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.
Also available as Markdown.