1955/55 1C Doubled Die MS65 Red PCGS. A shortage of circulating Cents during the summer of 1955 set the stage for the produ...

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Gem Red Uncirculated 1955/55 Doubled Die Cent

1955/55 1C Doubled Die MS65 Red PCGS. A shortage of circulating Cents during the summer of 1955 set the stage for the production of this, perhaps the most popular error in all of U.S. numismatics. The increased demand for Cents this year forced the Philadelphia Mint to speed up its production schedule and, correspondingly, to diminish its quality control. As a result, an obverse die that had accidentally rotated between blows from the working hub slipped past the inspection team and ended up on the press. Mated with a properly prepared reverse die, this obverse produced between 20,000 and 24,000 Doubled Die Cents between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning one day during the summer of 1955. The error was not discovered until after these coins had been mixed with other properly produced 1955 Cents. Since he did not want to destroy 10 million Cents in order to stop the Doubled Die examples from leaving the Mint, Chief Coiner Sydney C. Engel decided to let them pass. The first example was discovered by the public in Massachusetts late in 1955, and the error became popular within a few years. While obtainable with patience in the XF-AU grades, the 1955/55 Doubled Die is truly rare at the finer levels of Mint State preservation.
Among the finest certified coins extant, this lovely Gem is bursting with full, multicolored luster. Cherry-red and pink-red shades are both in evidence, but we are hard pressed to find even a single carbon fleck or abrasion that is out of context with the assigned grade. Like most 1955/55 Doubled Die Cents, this coin is boldly, if not sharply struck in all areas. NGC and PCGS combined report just 22 coins in MS65 Red, with a lone MS66 Red NGC example finer (3/05).
From The Tom Mershon #2 All-Time PCGS Registry Set of Lincoln Wheat Cents.(#2827) (Registry values: N7079)

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 2827, GSID# 2167)

Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Weight: 3.11 grams
Weight: 0.10422oz
Mintage: 5,000

View all of [The Tom Mershon #2 All-Time Registry Collection of Lincoln Wheat Cents ]

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