1917 1C Doubled Die MS66 Red PCGS. FS-013. Breen-2081. Ex: Tom Mershon Collection. It is miraculous that examples of this r...

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Jan 3, 2007 for:

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Premium Gem 1917 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent

1917 1C Doubled Die MS66 Red PCGS. FS-013. Breen-2081. Ex: Tom Mershon Collection. It is miraculous that examples of this rare Lincoln cent variety exist at all, and for that we have to thank the nationwide minor coin shortage that developed in 1917 and 1918, one that was also responsible for another rare and popular coin variety, the 1918/7-D Buffalo nickel. Because of the shortage of cents and nickels, the nation's three mints stepped up to the challenge. In the case of the Lincoln cent, mintages at all three mints combined increased from about 190 million pieces in 1916 to more than 284 million pieces in 1917. The Philadelphia Mint increased its output by about half, from 132 million cents in 1916 to 196 million in 1917. Against this backdrop, and likely due to the generous mintage for the time, the 1917 Doubled Die cents were created in sufficient numbers that a few nice Uncirculated pieces still exist today. Not discovered until 1977, the Doubled Die 1917 is predictably rare in all grades with the usual example (when found) in the lower circulated grades. The doubling is really quite pronounced, and certainly not in the realm of "micro-numismatics," as is often the case with some of the doubled dies discovered in recent years. The doubling is most easily seen on WE TRUST and the date. Considered by Fivaz-Stanton as "one of the top five Lincoln cent varieties." It is extremely rare in Mint State, with Gems of the utmost importance. Only three other pieces have been so graded, with two finer (11/06). The surfaces of this coin have brilliant orange mint color with an occasional area of gold. The sharply defined surfaces show no obvious or distracting abrasions on either side.(Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (PCGS# 92497, Greysheet# 1750)

Weight: 3.11 grams

Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Zinc

View Certification Details from PCGS