1955 Lincoln (1955 Lincoln 1c) NGC MS64 RED CAC. 1955 1C Doubled Die Obverse. Mint luster shimmers from within the devices of this premium quality king of the doubled dies. The deep red color is slightly lighter at the bottom of the coin. The grade of MS64, confirmed by CAC, is a result of a few light fly specks in fields on both sides along with one or two small nicks. If not for these, the coin would surely be a gem or better grade. The obverse strike is average on the obverse with typical softness seen on the beard, hair, and coat.

The reverse strike is strong and sharp. Doubling is clearly seen on the date and the legends of the obverse. (Note: The long scratches that appear on Lincolns face are on the holder not the coin.) In 1955, rather than ordering 20,000 to 24,000 coins destroyed, Coiner Sydney C. Engel decided to release the doubled die coins within a batch of ten million. They turned up in upper New York State, in western Massachusetts, and in Boston. Authentication is recommended because of the number of specimens that have been cleaned, recolored, and counterfeited. (All USRCI coins are authenticated by one of the major grading services.)

A doubled die is a Mint error caused when there is a misalignment between the hub and the die after the first hubbing. There are several classes of doubled dies based on the type of misalignment. The present coin is an example of a class of doubled dies known as Rotated Hub Doubling. In this case there was clockwise rotation between the images on the hub and the die between hubbings. For this reason the doubling on this coin is seen more strongly at the periphery than in the center.

After the release of these coins the Mint tried to correct the problem by adding lugs around the hub and the die. Raised on the hub they corresponded to depressions on the die. In combination, these fittings would presumably eliminate strong clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. In 1969, because of an altered design, the Mint removed the lugs. In that year another major double die, the 1969-S, was produced. The same thing happened in the next few years with the 1970-S, the 1971, and the 1972, where doubled dies were made from all three mints. After 1972, the Mint went back to placing lugs on the working hubs and dies to prevent further doubled dies caused by hub rotation.

All 1955 doubled die cents are rare. In its population report PCGS shows 239 red certified in all grades. In MS64 there are 140 with 18 better. In the CAC population report there are 6 in MS64 with 1 better.