What it is
A popular doubled die from Philadelphia with clear doubling on the obverse lettering. Several different doubled dies exist for 1972; the strongest, known as DDO-1, is the one collectors mean by "the 1972 doubled die".
How to identify it
- Clear doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, best seen with a 5x loupe.
- The date also shows doubling, especially the 7 and 2.
- No mint mark: it is a Philadelphia coin.
A 5x to 10x loupe and good, angled light make the details much easier to see. For anything that looks genuine, a digital scale and a certified comparison coin help.
What gets mistaken for it
Weaker 1972 doubled dies exist and are worth much less than DDO-1. Strike doubling, which looks flat and shelf-like, adds no value.
The regular 1972 coin
The variety appears on the 1972 Lincoln Memorial Cent, which had a total mintage of 2,933,255,000. That figure counts the whole issue, so it does not tell you how many coins show the variety.
Why 1972 produced so many doubled dies
In 1972 the Mint still made working dies with several separate blows from the hub. Each blow carried a risk of misalignment and that year a number of Philadelphia obverse dies came out with doubling of different strength and direction. Specialists have cataloged them and given each die its own number. The strongest by far is the one known as DDO-1, the coin that appears in general price guides and the Red Book.
The famous die doubled every part of the obverse, including Lincoln's portrait, but the effect is easiest to see in the lettering and date. Coins from it were released into circulation in the normal way and collectors soon noticed them in change.
How the 1972 doubled die became well known
The 1972 doubled die arrived when the 1955 doubled die was already famous. Reports in the hobby press and in newspapers encouraged ordinary people to check their change. That attention made it one of the best-known modern varieties. The same fame attracted counterfeiters, so it is also one of the Lincoln cents most often faked.
A step-by-step check for DDO-1
Hold the coin under a lamp at about 45 degrees and use a 5x loupe for a first look and a 10x loupe for detail. Check LIBERTY first: on DDO-1 every letter shows a strong, clearly separated second image. Then move to IN GOD WE TRUST and the date. If LIBERTY is only mildly doubled, you may have one of the weaker 1972 dies instead.
Next, compare the direction and width of the spread with images of a certified DDO-1. Each 1972 doubled die has its own direction and strength of spread and matching both is how specialists attribute them. A coin that is doubled in a different direction is a different die, even if the doubling looks strong.
Finally, confirm the basics: a weight of about 3.11 grams and no mint mark below the date. A 1972-D or 1972-S cent cannot be this variety.
Fakes and the weaker 1972 dies
Counterfeits of the 1972 doubled die are common and many were struck outside the United States. Warning signs include digits that look slightly too thick, a soft rim, small raised lumps in the fields and a color or luster that looks wrong for a copper cent. Some fakes were made from dies copied from a genuine coin, so they need a trained eye.
The weaker 1972 doubled dies are genuine varieties with their own small following, but sellers sometimes list them simply as the 1972 doubled die. Always ask which die a coin is and whether it has been attributed.
Grades and colors to aim for
Many DDO-1 coins were saved soon after release, so Uncirculated examples exist in reasonable numbers. Collectors favor red coins with original luster, graded RD, while toned and brown pieces carry less of a premium. Spotting is common on copper cents of this period, so check both sides for small dark flecks before buying.
Authentication and attribution
PCGS and NGC list the strongest 1972 doubled die as FS-101 and certify it. CONECA attributes the many 1972 doubled dies by number. For a raw coin, ask a variety specialist to confirm which die it is before paying for grading, because an attribution fee on a machine doubled coin is wasted.
Other early 1970s doubled die cents
The 1972 sits in a group of collectible doubled dies from the early 1970s. The 1970-S Small Date doubled die obverse, the 1971 doubled die obverse and the 1971-S proof doubled die obverse are all listed in the major references. Many collectors add the 1972 to a short set of these coins.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent?
Clear doubling on LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, best seen with a 5x loupe. The date also shows doubling, especially the 7 and 2. If your coin passes these checks, have it authenticated by PCGS or NGC before buying or selling.
Is the 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent valuable?
Genuine examples sell for a premium over regular coins of the same date. The amount depends on how strong the variety is, the coin's condition and whether it is certified. Compare recent sold auction results for certified coins in the same grade.
What is a doubled die obverse?
A doubled die is a die that received two slightly misaligned impressions from the hub when it was made. Every coin struck from that die shows the same doubled lettering or design. Read more about doubled dies.
How many 1972 doubled die cent varieties are there?
Several 1972 Philadelphia obverse dies show doubling. Only one, DDO-1, has the strong doubling collectors mean by the 1972 doubled die.
Is a 1972-D penny a doubled die?
The famous 1972 doubled die has no mint mark. Doubling on a 1972-D cent is usually machine doubling, though specialists catalog some minor Denver doubled dies.