1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse, BN MS(PCGS#2921)

1969-S 1C Doubled Die Obverse, BN MS (PCGS#2921)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: A lovely and nicely preserved example of this iconic 20th century rarity. The surfaces retain traces of faded mint orange color, especially in the protected areas around the peripheral devices, while both sides are further adorned with glossy copper-brown patina and subtle steel-blue undertones. The strike is sharp, the texture frosty, and both sides are lightly marked to confirm the assigned numeric grade.The 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse is an extremely desirable variety, ranking No.2 in the fourth (2017) edition of the popular reference 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins by Scott Schechter and Jeff Garrett. According to PCGS CoinFacts only 100 examples are known, which represents an extremely limited total given the broad collector base for Lincoln cents. The doubling on this variety is very dramatic, fully matching the spectacular appearance of the well known 1955 and 1972 Doubled Die Obverse varieties, but in the case of the 1969-S, many times rarer. Quoting from Fivaz and Stanton's Cherrypickers' Guide (2015): "The publicity this coin has received over its lifetime has been enormous, hence the very high values, which are well deserved." According to Breen, the variety was independently reported by two collectors in June and July of 1970. The present offering represents a fleeting bidding opportunity for a coin that will serve as a highlight in an advanced Lincoln cent collection.