Lot 160
1955. Doubled die obverse. PCGS graded MS-64 Red. Well struck and a popular key date. Between 20,000 and 24,000 supposedly minted. A blazing copper-red specimen with increasingly deep carmine and rose highlights in the field. A frosted near-gem of the order collectors prefer to see wherein the fields glow, there are few distracting handling marks, and no spotting. And among the more attractive MS64s certified by PCGS. In addition, the coin possesses a nice, clear-cut strike for all areas with outstanding detail at the famous obverse doubling. Pop 143; 19 finer, 1 in 64+, 18 in 65. (PCGS # 2827) .
Anecdote: It seems a Boston area vending machine company got their hands on a fairly substantial number of the original Doubled Die mintage commingled with regular 1955 cents in bags (unbeknownst to them, of course) and sent them on their way via a circuitous route. At the time, this company's vending machines sold cigarettes at 23 cents a pack. In order to provide a refund to the buyer who had inserted a quarter dollar into the slot, two copper cents were inserted ahead of time beneath the cellophane wrapper of each pack! Wouldn't you know it, the 1955 Doubled Dies began showing up as change, 2 cents at a time! Retired coin dealer Jim Ruddy recalls cornering a supply of Doubled Dies shortly thereafter, before he grew concerned that the error wasn't all that rare. Fretful that he was tying up too much working capital in one modern issue, he quit buying them at 50 cents apiece after his stock topped five hundred coins!
Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000.
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