1955 double die?

Hello all,

I was hoping that I could get some help finding out if this is a true 1955 double die penny. It's not in the best condition but it should still be clear enough to make out. Thanks for your help!

 

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Looks real to me! But you should get other opinions still as I am not an expert.

 

It has the diagnostics of a genuine DDO but many counterfeits are known to exist. Where did you get the coin?

 

The 1st T overlaps the 2nd T , and like Hobo said diagnostics are correct , but this is a highly faked coin . I'd have it verified by a top tpg . Hope you bought it from a reliable dealer who backs his coins with a full return policy . I'd be interested where you got it also .
Rusty

 

Yes; As previously said, all of the diagnostics point to it being a genuine DDO, but the only thing that has me somewhat suspicious is the color. It is a sort of sand-blasted, choco brown which is a common color used in counterfeited Lincoln Cents. This may just be to the photo quality and the fact that this coin may have been scanned for the photo (which usually causes this sort of matte brown look). I would love to see another photograph but this time taken from a video camera and not a machine scanner. Catch it at a couple of different angles as well, and that is when I will (most likely) be able to determine the genuiness of the coin.

Good Luck,
Brian

 

The one thing I don't see is the VDB on Lincolns bust . This could be missing on a fake but a real 55 DD should have it .

 

Oh yes! I just noticed that as well. Hmmm, now I am very suspicious.

 

Especially on a piece in this condition , there should at least be some marks where the initials should be . Unless they wewr filled in by grease . But then that would be a diagnostic that people would know about . Wish I was an expert .

 

Looks great to me. I see nothing that makes me question the coin.

 

very nice send it to NGC they can give you a detailed analyses of the coin.. i don't see the V.D.B. .. and all the cents in the 50s have it so it pointing to a really good counterfeit... where u got it from ?? how much you paid???? whats the original cert #

 

It appears to be genuine. VDB is often hard to see in a picture due to its size, shadows, etc. The initials can't be hidden from die grease since they are raised on the working die, not incuse. Easy enough for the OP to verify, regardless.

I am not sure what "diagnostics" people are referring to. Appearance isn't a diagnostic.

The only diagnostic I am aware of for this coin is on the reverse, from polishing to the one die that was paired with the doubled obverse die. To the left of T in CENT there should be vertical die polish lines. And it may be very difficult to detect on a circulated coin like this one.

Good advice about having it graded for authenticity as well as value. And buying from a reliable dealer who will stand behind it.
Lance.

 

The picture is very clear and more than large enough, not to mention there is direct light where the initials should be.

I don't see any indication of VDB even in the slightest bit. With the amount the bottom of his shoulder is raised, and not worn down, there should be easily visible initials, which there is not. As a whole the coin looks good, but as others said the completely missing VDB is very suspect.

 

Maybe so. And certainly easy for the OP to validate so there really is no debate. It's just an unlikely omission and pictures can deceive.

The VDB presence is the sort of thing we look for in fake '14-D's and other very early Lincolns because there was no VDB at the shoulder from 1909 through 1917. It seems odd, though not impossible, that a counterfeiter would go to extremes to produce an excellent fake and miss the initials that have been on these coins for almost 100 years.
Lance.

 

Just one to compare with.

 

Something is scratched into his shoulder. Even at high mag, I can't make out what it says. But I do see a ' Y' and
an 'H'.
I just checked the Lincoln resource center and I do not see VDB on the one they show.
A diagnostic to look for is two small die scratches on the left bar of the ' T ' in CENTS. I don't see them on this cent posted.
Wait a minute, I do see something right below the left bar tip in cent. It is straight and pointing toward the lower part of the ' N ' in CENT.
This cent appears to be the real 1955 DDO. Next weigh it and check it with a magnet. Only the send it to a TPG.

 

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I did use a scanner (I don't have a camera at the moment) and so it did come out looking a little different than in reality.

My gut tells me this isn't a fake - my grandfather recently left me some coins and this was among them, all the rest are genuine and I think that he was a pretty knowledgeable guy when it comes to numismatics.

I will post again after I take it to get it properly graded.

 

Thanks Lance , never even thought about the VDB being incused , duh , guess that's why I collect types and early commemeratives . My bad about the grease .
Rusty

 

I think it's genuine too. I also think you are one lucky SOB! What else did grandpa leave you?
Lance.

 

Thanks! I thought I was pretty lucky too. He also left me a few Morgans, a Fugio cent, a lot of gold eagles, half eagles, etc, an 1883 Hawaiian dollar, and a few Franklin halves.

 

The diognostics I was looking at were taken from the book Standard Catalog of U.S. Altered and Counterfeit Coins , in hindsight a pretty lousy way to look for fakes , They use a description of well know fake , better to have diognostics of the real coin , like weak N in one for 1877 Indian cents . That's what's great about this hobby , as much as you think you know you can always learn more . Thanks for the heads up of the polishing lines on the reverse die , I imagine with the small # of '55 DDs that diognostic must be true for all '55s with DD .
Rusty