The Lincoln cent ranks among the most widely collected United States coin series. Introduced in 1909, the series spans more than a century and includes an extensive range of die varieties that continue to test even advanced collectors.
Among the most sought-after Lincoln cent varieties are doubled dies. Many collectors recognize famous issues such as the 1955, 1969-S, 1972, 1983, and 1995 doubled-die coins. Numerous additional varieties exist, though most remain familiar only to specialists.
One doubled die, however, occupies a category of rarity and value unmatched by any other Lincoln cent.
That coin is the 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent.
A Confirmed Population of Just Three Coins
The 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent carries the attribution FS-101 (Class I) and exists in only three confirmed examples. The PCGS Population Report records all three grading events.
That total is extraordinary. Collectors pursue the Lincoln cent more aggressively than almost any other U.S. series. Yet no additional confirmed examples have appeared in more than six decades.
This level of scarcity reinforces the difficulty of completing a Lincoln cent set that includes all major varieties.
Dramatic Hub Doubling Visible Without Magnification
From a technical perspective, the 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent stands out immediately.
The obverse shows bold hub doubling that collectors can see without magnification. The inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST and LIBERTY display wide, well-separated doubling. The date also shows clear duplication, with the 8 exhibiting especially strong separation.
The doubling rivals that of the famous 1955 and 1972 Doubled Die Obverse cents. Availability creates the difference. Those varieties exist in far greater numbers. By contrast, the 1958 doubled die remains effectively unobtainable for most collectors.
Discovery and Early Recognition
The discovery specimen emerged around 1960, when Philadelphia collector Charles Ludovico searched through a $50 face-value bag of 1958 Lincoln cents. He identified the doubled die and submitted the coin to the United States Mint, where officials confirmed its authenticity.
Even after that confirmation, the variety drew little attention for many years.
Public documentation did not occur until 1983 or 1984, when ERRORAMA of Cherry Hill, New Jersey reported the coin. Scholarly recognition followed in 1996, when David W. Lange included the variety in The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents. At that time, collectors knew of only one certified example.
Certification History and Known Examples
The original discovery coin received an MS64 Red grade from ANACS before later crossing into a PCGS holder at the same grade.
Today, all three confirmed examples reside in PCGS holders:
- One PCGS MS65RD, with CAC Sticker from the Stewart Blay Collection that was auctioned by GreatCollections in 2023. PCGS Cert #44549597 (w photo)
- One PCGS MS64RD example offered by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in March of 2018 and pedigred to the EMS Collection. PCGS Cert #4997055 (no Photo)
- The Third MS64RD is beleived to the the original discovery coin, mentioned above. It has NO Sales records or auction appearances. PCGS does Not have a photo of the coin but they do have a PCGS Cert # 02681537 (no Photo)
No additional examples have been authenticated.
Auction History and Seven-Figure Benchmark
The market record for the 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent reflects persistent demand despite its fixed population.
- 1996 – the first certified example realized $25,025
- 2000 – the same coin sold for $57,500 after crossing into a PCGS holder
- March 2018 – a PCGS MS64RD example sold $336,000 at a Stacks Bowers auction.
- In January 2023, GreatCollections auctioned the PCGS MS65RD example from the Stewart Blay Collection for $1,136,250.
That result firmly established the 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent as a seven-figure modern U.S. coin rarity.
Condition and Numismatic Importance
The Stack’s Bowers MS64RD example exhibits a satiny finish with full light rose luster. A light obverse haze appears to have limited the grade. The strike is strong overall, though minor softness is visible at the base of Lincoln’s bust and in the corresponding reverse area near the letter O in ONE.
Despite these traits, the coin displays solid Choice quality and ranks among the most important Lincoln cents of any variety ever offered at public auction.
The GreatCollections MS65RD is an outstanding coin with exceptional Eye Appeal with a vibrant red color. The strike is sharp amd the doubling is obvious. Overall and exceptiona gem and worthy of being the Finest known.
A Defining Rarity of Modern U.S. Coinage
The 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln cent stands among the leading U.S. Mint varieties of the 20th century. Its combination of bold doubling, a confirmed population of three, and a verified seven-figure auction result places it in a category shared by very few postwar United States coins.
For most collectors, ownership will remain unattainable. Yet the coin continues to define the upper limit of achievement within the Lincoln cent series.
So how can I get a coin checked out if I think it is a possible 58 double die?
Ya think. ????…. It’s either a double die , or not.
I have a 1958 wheat penny in almost new condition what is it worth it is not a double die.
Face value
I have a 1958 also I found in a roll of pennies That’s missing the nine of the 19 it was barely stamped but yet the nine is completely missing any ideas on this thank you.
Hi. I have 1958 D BN, but it is DDO and DDR. It is not as obvious but with a lope it’s real doubled. As a matter of fact I have 2.
I also have a 1958 along with 1957 and some older dated one’s.Could they all be worth any value?
I have a 1958 Double Die penny with no mint mark it’s not red I’m pretty sure but it’s one heack of a double die
Can you send pics
I have a 1958 no mint mark red ddo it’s a real beautiful coin, I inherited it from my dad, he told me to make sure I “get involved with people who know coins well, and it’s worth a heckofalot of money…. I unfortunately had my coin collections pilfered and bad guys took what they wanted, guess they didn’t know a penny could be so valuable. I have researched numismatics for the last ten years with dilegence I have every key date in the Lincoln series and nearly all except for one, I have every error Lincoln and then some. I had a coin collection valued in the millions, the 1894 barber dime the 1975 proof no mint mark, the 1794-95-96 liberty every Kennedy every coin basically that a person can have that is worth most money because of the grades being all 65+. This 1958 looks like it could go home with a grade, in my opinion hmmm, I believe it is the very best with doubling on every letter every number, even the face of Lincoln appears with two three sets of eyes,. Without magnifying it it looks like it could be a 69+ but I believe it can take a 67+ 68+. I have the 1972 d over d ddo w rim error “fin” a few of those at least grades of 67+68+69+. The 1960d small over large date d over d grades in the same CATAGORY of grades 67+68+69+ maybe even a 70+ amazing key dates errors that are sought intensely. I want to sell them…. They are coming out, as the coins that have been taken from me have made their way into the world. There were 4 rolls of the ddo 72 not all with rim error and not all ddo for that matter but ya that’s where they came from. Including several I had have sold in Vegas. Though I have pictures and videos of my coins it is hard to prove since they have been removed from cases and other ed has possibly occurred. They were taken late 2019/ early 2020 and again in 2021. Lock up your coins geese it was difficult to process such an enormous amount of money, some people do not understand the true value of coins, I had four carry-on suit cases full, all mint state all key dates all mint errors all very high grades. the 1894 barber the 1975 no mint mark proof dime the 1794 liberty that is only 3 coins..I had thousands of coins. Anyway just wanted to spread my wings a bit and came across this post and thought to add a reply. Thanks for reading…
Allanna.. I can feel your loss. With the coins that just disappeared. But..you know I’m sure who u let near your coins. Something similar happened to me only it was my old comic books sold for 10 cents bay back when . I know who took mine. He took then and left. Disappointed T.D Toledo ohio.
Timothy Milligan
I sure would like to see some pictures of your 58 d/d
I have a 1912 penny it’s pretty neat I’ve had it for many years it’s probably not worth much but I’ve kept it because it was the year the titanic went down
Whole row of 1958 d some double die good where can i send some od the image to
I also have a 1958 double die red. The condition of the coin is fabulous. Strong doubling in the date but minor doubling elsewhere. I cannot find a variety listing for this coin. Can you help? Where can i send pictures to you?
Online search.
Sure would like to get my fingers on 1 of those 1958 Lincoln pennies; cause i was born that year. Im gonna check my collection soon.
A ddo 1958 red..70. The last one wasn’t even a 70 grade. 65 grade. For 1 million.
I have a 1996 double die penny those it has any value and how much ?
I have a 1953 D wheat penny is it worth anything. And the 1 is barely stamped on there
My friend has a rather large collection of coins, from every year you can think of. His mother had been collecting coins since he was a child, in 1936. We have 20 or more of the 58 variety, all are double die. Most are in EF or better condition. All the coins have been in a box for the past 30 years. Sitting in his garage, can you believe that!? I’ve inspected every coin, from Lincoln cent to: Nichols, Mercury dimes, quarters, bicentennial, silver dollars / Peace dollars, bicentennial. It’s taken me over a month on a daily basis spending hours on in, looking at all these coins with 7 plus Power Scope. There’s a proximately 30 Buffalo nickels, 30 Mercury dimes, half dollars, all of the silver coins are in pristine condition. The Collection is unbelievable. I’ve learned a lot, these past few months, my friend had no idea that these coins would be so valuable.
Wow…
I would love to see some of your collection.
i have a 1958D and on the back the T in united is a 7
Hi I have 1958d double die penny, any idea where can i send it to ?
I have a 2012 penny that is a double die visible to the eye and even more prominent when Zoomed in. It has multiple errors that happened during mint process. Truly a cool looking coin.
I bought a Lincoln Cent collection at a garage sale and the collection contained several gem/mint wheat cents. After studying the mint coins, I realized that one was a 1958 double-die example with “Liberty” clearly struck twice. Unfortunately, I absently used the coin at a Mini-Mart store so it is back in circulation in the state of Utah. The slushee I bought with the change, however, was delicious.
I have a 1958 d with the d almost touching the 9 but what I’m concerned about I’ve heard no one talk about a DDR in the E pluribus unum is very strong doubling staring with the E the P L U is very hard to see maybe from grease but the rest is easy to see just wondering has any body else found one like it or does it need to be sent off and I believe the date on the front could be a DDO. Any body got any thing on this.
I have a 1958 Lincoln penny DDO..DDR.. absolutely stunning getting ready to send it off to PCGS for Grade and Authentication… would like to share pics of this beauty
-i have a 1958 ddo and a 1941d ddo and 1955 ddo and a 1924 ddo and a 1901 penny and 1957d ddo and a 1968s ddo penne and its a 100% shore aand i have other dimes nickle and quarters that are double die
With all there people having all these 1958 ddo’s,i find it jawdropping that have only been 3 examples since 1960.Or am i being skeptical?
I have 2 1958’s which look like they have a thin coppery colored halo around Lincoln’s image is this double dye?
I have a ddo how would I send a picture
Have a 58 and 55 DDO and no coin dealer was even interested, said it wasn’t what they were looking as far as DDO.
I’m going to to get this authicated have really good pictures as well, how much do cost to get appraised and where
I have a 1958 D the double due is only on the year date.
I recently purchased a bag of uncirculated 1958s, but I’m sure they have been searched.
I carefully search all 1958’s that I come across for any minting varieties.
I have GOT to go through my pennies again!
That’s a great article. It’s also something else I need to be aware of. I bought a large collection several years ago and still haven’t gone through it. Hopefully I’ll find one of these treasures.
Thanks
Great looking coin
Every time I look at one of the older reddish colored Lincoln cent, I am amazed..it never gets old.
Now I have to go through all my 1958 Lincolns just in case. I know the odds are not in my favor but what the heck
Very nice doubling. Probably has less thrill because the doubling by the date is more subdued. We look at the date first and if it’s a date we know we look for the other features. With the ’55 we see the doubling, easily, right away, when we look at the date.
Still a very nice set of three coins! Wow!
I have the 1958 DDO FX 101 wheat penny for sure. I have verification on every letter and it matches every detail identical. This coin has luster and is between Ms 62 and Au58