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 dies. 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, 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.
The post 1958 Doubled Die Remains One of the Most Elusive Lincoln Cent Varieties appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.
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