Lincoln Wheat Cent · Philadelphia variety

1958 Doubled Die Penny Value & Identification Guide

The variety is often searched for as the “1958 double die penny,” but the standard numismatic term is 1958 Doubled Die Obverse, or DDO. FS-101 is one of the rarest Lincoln Wheat Cent varieties, with three confirmed examples currently known.

See value evidence Check the diagnostics

Reviewed by the Coins Identification editorial team · Facts and auction history checked September 2026

Full 1958 cent reference image. Diagnostic attribution requires a real specialist comparison.

Year1958

VarietyDoubled Die Obverse

AttributionFS-101

CONECADDO-001

MintPhiladelphia

Mint markNone

SeriesLincoln Wheat Cent

DenominationOne Cent

Known examples3 confirmed

Known grades2 × MS64RD, 1 × MS65RD

Auction record$336,000

Record dateMarch 2018

Auction houseStack's Bowers

Start with the value answer

How Much Is a 1958 Doubled Die Penny Worth?

Authenticity comes before price.

There is no normal value ladder for this variety. PCGS and NGC currently describe only three confirmed examples, so the market is driven by the exact authenticated specimen, its grade and color, provenance and auction competition.

The best-known documented result is a PCGS MS64RD 1958 DDO FS-101 that sold for $336,000 at Stack's Bowers in March 2018. That is one specific coin, not a price for every doubled-looking 1958 cent.

Do not invent intermediate grades: a raw coin cannot be assigned an FS-101 value from a photograph alone.

Known population

Known 1958 Doubled Die Examples

Three confirmed specimens are currently described.

Known example	Grade	Color	Certification	Documented sale
Specimen 1	MS65	RD	PCGS	Verified history
Specimen 2	MS64	RD	PCGS	$336,000 documented result
Specimen 3	MS64	RD	PCGS	Verified history

Do not treat a provenance label as a new coin. One specimen can appear in more than one historical sale.

1958 Doubled Die Penny known examples — Educational data graphic: one MS65RD and two MS64RD examples are currently confirmed.

Verified auction result

Did a 1958 Doubled Die Penny Really Sell for $336,000?

Yes. A PCGS-graded MS64RD 1958 Doubled Die Obverse FS-101 sold for $336,000 at Stack's Bowers in March 2018. The price reflects the tiny known population, dramatic doubling, original Red color, high grade and intense collector competition.

It does not mean every 1958 cent with a doubled-looking letter is valuable. Confirm the attribution, certification and individual lot first.

Verified $336,000 sale of a 1958 Doubled Die Penny MS64RD — Verified auction result for one specific MS64RD coin.

Visual identification

What Does a 1958 Doubled Die Penny Look Like?

Look for a coherent pattern across the obverse.

PCGS describes wide and pronounced doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, with less pronounced doubling on the date, especially the 8. The pattern should match the known FS-101 diagnostics. A single blurry edge, scratch or flat shelf is not enough.

1958 Doubled Die Penny obverse FS-101 diagnostics — Educational diagnostic map showing LIBERTY, the motto and the date.

Lettering diagnostic

Check LIBERTY

On the famous FS-101, LIBERTY shows broad, rounded separation across the letters. Compare the full word with an authoritative reference and check that the date and motto show the same die pattern.

1958 Doubled Die LIBERTY close-up — Educational macro comparison: normal lettering versus strong rounded doubling.

Motto diagnostic

Check IN GOD WE TRUST

The motto is another pronounced FS-101 diagnostic. Look for wide, rounded separation across multiple letters rather than a thin scratch or shelf-like edge. The motto should agree with LIBERTY and the date.

1958 Doubled Die IN GOD WE TRUST close-up — Educational motto comparison with broad separated lettering on the DDO reference.

Date nuance

Check the 1958 Date

The date has less pronounced doubling than LIBERTY and the motto, with the 8 often providing the clearest place to look. Do not authenticate the variety from the date alone.

1958 Doubled Die Penny date showing doubling on the 8 — Educational date comparison: less pronounced separation around the 8.

Side-by-side screen

1958 Doubled Die vs Regular 1958 Penny

Feature	Regular 1958	1958 DDO FS-101
LIBERTY	Normal lettering	Strong rounded doubling
IN GOD WE TRUST	Normal lettering	Strong rounded doubling
Date	Normal	Less pronounced doubling, especially 8
Mint mark	None on Philadelphia	None on Philadelphia
Rarity	Common issue	Three confirmed examples
Attribution	Regular cent	FS-101 / DDO-001

Regular 1958 penny compared with FS-101 doubled die — Side-by-side educational comparison. The variety needs all matching diagnostics.

Common lookalike

1958 Doubled Die vs Machine Doubling

A genuine doubled die is formed during die-making and creates rounded, separated design elements. Machine doubling occurs during the strike and usually appears flat, pushed or shelf-like. It does not create the same collector premium.

1958 Doubled Die versus machine doubling — Educational comparison: rounded separated design versus a flatter shelf-like strike effect.

Extreme rarity

How Rare Is the 1958 Doubled Die Penny?

Three confirmed examples are currently known. PCGS and NGC describe one MS65RD and two MS64RD specimens. That is a known population, not a claim that no other genuine coin can ever be discovered.

Discovery history

When Was the 1958 Doubled Die Discovered?

The variety was not known to the numismatic community until the early 1980s. PCGS records the first report around 1983 or 1984 through ERRORAMA in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The discovery date is approximate because the source gives a range.

1958 Doubled Die discovery timeline from 1958 to 1983 1984 — Timeline: coin struck in 1958, first reported around 1983 or 1984, three confirmed today.

Mint mark check

Does the 1958 Doubled Die Have a Mint Mark?

No. The famous FS-101 is a Philadelphia cent, so no mint mark below the date is correct. Do not call the absence of a letter a missing-mint-mark error.

1958 Doubled Die no mint mark Philadelphia close-up — Philadelphia FS-101 and a separate Denver issue shown for mint-mark context.

Denver confusion

Is There a 1958-D Doubled Die Penny?

The famous ultra-rare 1958 DDO FS-101 is a Philadelphia cent with no mint mark, not a 1958-D. Denver has separate RPM and other variety attributions, including documented RPM listings, but they are not the three-known FS-101. Do not use FS-101 prices for a Denver coin.

1958 DDO FS-101 compared with a separate 1958-D Denver penny — Separate Philadelphia and Denver issues. The D mint mark is a different attribution.

Value factors

Why Is the 1958 Doubled Die So Valuable?

Extreme rarity, dramatic doubling, original Red color, high grade, certification, Lincoln cent demand and very few market opportunities all matter. A buyer is competing for one of only a few known coins, not for a normal date-and-mint cent.

Why the 1958 Doubled Die is valuable — Rarity, diagnostics, grade, color and demand combine in the market.

Documented sales

1958 Doubled Die Penny Auction History

Historical results are not an average price.

Year	Reported result	Context
1996	$25,025	Historical sale record
2000	$57,500	Historical sale record
2018	$336,000	MS64RD Stack's Bowers result

Some historical sales can involve the same specimen. They should not be counted as three different coins or treated as an average market price.

1958 Doubled Die Penny auction history timeline — Timeline of reported results, with same-specimen provenance kept in context.

Professional review

How to Authenticate a 1958 Doubled Die Penny

Check for no mint mark, strong LIBERTY doubling, strong motto doubling, the less pronounced date doubling, correct bronze specifications and known die diagnostics. A plausible discovery should go to a professional grading service. One photograph never proves authenticity.

1958 Doubled Die FS-101 authentication checklist — Screening checklist before professional authentication.

False positives

Why Most “1958 Doubled Die” Finds Are Not FS-101

Machine doubling, die deterioration, damage, lighting, image blur, normal lettering and confusion with 1958-D can all create a false positive. Compare the shape and position of separation across multiple design areas without dismissing a coin before it is examined.

1958 Doubled Die false positives compared with true FS-101 — Educational screening graphic: common lookalikes versus the true diagnostic pattern.

Die-making process

How Was the 1958 Doubled Die Created?

A doubled die begins with a doubled design on the working die, caused by a misaligned hub impression during die production. Coins struck afterward receive that doubled design. The coin was not simply struck twice.

How a 1958 Doubled Die was created on the working die — Working die, misalignment, doubled design on die, then coin struck.

Buying guidance

Can You Buy a 1958 Doubled Die Penny?

Public market appearances are extremely rare because only three confirmed examples are currently known. Any raw “1958 DDO” listing deserves caution. An asking price does not establish authenticity, and a photo cannot verify the known diagnostics. Prefer a coin with a verifiable certification, provenance and matching FS-101 attribution.

Reference specifications

1958 Doubled Die Penny Specifications

CountryUnited States

Year1958

VarietyDoubled Die Obverse

AttributionFS-101 / DDO-001

MintPhiladelphia

Mint markNone

Composition95% copper, 5% tin and zinc

Weight3.11 g

Diameter19 mm

EdgePlain

ReverseTwo wheat ears

Known examples3 confirmed

Protect the diagnostics

Do Not Clean a Possible 1958 DDO

Cleaning can remove original surfaces, create hairlines and obscure the diagnostic areas. Handle the coin by the edge, keep it dry and submit a valuable candidate for professional review.

Questions collectors ask

1958 Doubled Die Penny FAQ

What is a 1958 Doubled Die Penny?

The famous variety is the Philadelphia 1958 Doubled Die Obverse, FS-101, also called DDO-001.

How much is a 1958 Doubled Die Penny worth?

There is no normal grade-by-grade market ladder because only three examples are currently confirmed. Value depends on the specific authenticated specimen and auction demand.

Did a 1958 Doubled Die really sell for $336,000?

Yes. A PCGS MS64RD example sold at Stack's Bowers in March 2018. That result belongs to one specific coin.

What does a genuine 1958 Doubled Die look like?

Strong, rounded doubling is most apparent on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, with less pronounced doubling on the date, especially the 8.

How many 1958 Doubled Die Pennies are known?

PCGS and NGC currently describe three confirmed examples: one MS65RD and two MS64RD.

Does the famous 1958 DDO have a mint mark?

No. FS-101 is a Philadelphia issue, so the absence of a mint mark is correct.

Is there a 1958-D Doubled Die Penny?

The famous FS-101 is not a 1958-D. Denver has separate RPM and other variety attributions that must be evaluated independently.

What is FS-101 and what does DDO mean?

FS-101 is the recognized attribution for this doubled-die obverse. DDO means Doubled Die Obverse.

How is a doubled die different from machine doubling?

A doubled die is formed during die production and has rounded, separated design. Machine doubling occurs during the strike and is usually flatter and shelf-like.

When was the 1958 Doubled Die discovered?

The variety was first reported around 1983 or 1984, after the 1958 issue had already circulated.

How can I authenticate a possible 1958 DDO?

Compare all known diagnostics, check specifications and submit a plausible high-value candidate to a professional grading service.

Can I buy a 1958 Doubled Die Penny?

Public appearances are extremely rare. Treat any raw listing with caution and verify certification, provenance and diagnostics.

Should I clean a possible 1958 DDO?

No. Cleaning can remove diagnostics and original surfaces, lowering confidence and collector value.