1995 was a good year for doubled dies, with at last count at least seven different
varieties being identified (that's seven different doubled dies, from both the
Philadelphia and Denver Mints). The varieties show differing levels of doubling, with none
of the doubling as strong as it appears on the 1969-S Lincoln, Doubled Die cent.
1995 Lincoln, Doubled Die |
The first 1995 Lincoln, Doubled Die cent was discovered in Connecticut in February of
that year. The collector who found the coin recognized it as a doubled die thanks to
Collectors' Clearinghouse articles he had read in Coin World. He sent the coin to Coin
World where his find was verified and announced to the world.
Like pop artist Andy Warhol predicted, the collector found his 15 minutes of fame.
1995 Lincoln, Doubled Die |
Newspapers and radio and television stations from all over the world - many of them
interviewing him - carried the story. Many, many specimens of the 1995 Doubled Die cent
were found by collectors and non-collectors alike, most of them east of the Mississippi
River. The coins initially sold for several hundred dollars each, but as thousands were
discovered, prices dropped to as low as $20 for specimens in really nice condition. Still,
when prices for the coin were still high, Coin World received many reports from collectors
and non-collectors who had found multiple specimens and were able to sell them, using
their profits for such things as mortgage payments and college tuition.
1995 Lincoln, Doubled Die |
This initial discovery caused collectors and non-collectors to examine their coins
closely. Other, less significant 1995 and 1995-D doubled die cents were found, none of
which brought premiums that were as high as brought by the first variety discovered.
Still, each of these doubled die coins is collectible, and there are specimens in
circulation awaiting discovery.
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