1917 Lincoln Cent Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties

In 1917, the U.S. Mint was producing Lincoln Cents at wartime pace — nearly 200 million from Philadelphia alone. That industrial pressure left a stunning mark: one of the most valuable doubled die varieties in American numismatics. The 1917 Doubled Die Obverse (FS-101) has sold for $120,000 in top grade, yet it can surface in old collections, inherited coin jars, and dealer bins. This guide tells you exactly what to look for — and what to ignore. For standard circulation values, start with our 1917 Lincoln Cent value guide, then dive into the error identification below.

1917 Lincoln Cent: Specifications, Mintage & Mints

Before checking for errors, confirm your coin's basic identity. Three mints struck Lincoln Cents in 1917, each with distinct collecting characteristics. Look below the date on the front (obverse): no letter means Philadelphia, D means Denver, S means San Francisco.

Despite high Philadelphia mintage, pristine uncirculated examples — especially those retaining original bright copper color (the Red or RD designation) — are dramatically scarce after 100+ years. Copper oxidizes over time, and most survivors have darkened to brown. For full grade-by-grade base values, see our 1917 Lincoln Cent value guide.

1917 Lincoln Cent: Quick Checks — Do You Have a Valuable Error?

Work through these checks with a 10x loupe (a small magnifying glass used by collectors, available for under $10) and a bright, direct light source. Start with the checks that match your coin's mint mark.

1917 Lincoln Cent Errors & Varieties: Complete Value Chart

All major 1917 Lincoln Cent varieties and errors in one place. Color codes: RD = original Red (most valuable), RB = Red-Brown, BN = Brown (most common). Error Type links go directly to identification guides below the table.

1917 Lincoln Cent: Valuable Errors & Varieties — Identification Guides

1917 Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) — FS-101

Normal 1917 cent (left) vs. DDO FS-101 (right) — rounded doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST with split serifs.

How the Error Was Created

Working dies in 1917 were made by pressing a master hub (a positive image of the coin's design) into a softened steel blank multiple times, with the die removed and re-annealed (re-softened by heating) between pressings. A Class V Pivoted Hub Doubling occurs when the die is not perfectly aligned with the hub during a subsequent pressing. For the FS-101, the pivot point sits near the center of the die — approximately at Lincoln's shoulder. Because the pivot is central, the doubling radiates outward, growing stronger near the coin's edges. This geometry explains why the motto and date show the most dramatic doubling: they are the farthest from the pivot point.

How to Identify the FS-101

TRUST close-up on FS-101: split serifs on the T and R are the primary diagnostic marker.

• IN GOD WE TRUST (motto): The strongest area. Doubling spreads counter-clockwise. Look for split serifs — the small horizontal feet at the tops and bases of letters appear clearly separated. Most visible on the T and R of TRUST.
• Date (1917): The secondary image is rotated, creating notched or fat-looking digits. The serifs on the 1 and 7 show the clearest notching.
• LIBERTY: Thickened and notched vertical strokes, particularly on the L, I, and B.
• Lincoln's face: A subtle "double lip," "double nose," or "double eye" effect — rare on a die variety and dramatic when present in Early Die State examples.
• Die State matters: Early Die State (EDS) examples show the crispest, most deeply notched doubling and are the most desirable. Late Die State (LDS) examples show blurred details, but doubling on TRUST usually persists longest. An EDS VF30 can outperform an LDS XF40 in desirability.

Date detail of FS-101 — notched, fat-looking 1 and 7 from the rotated secondary hub impression.

False Positives to Avoid

The most dangerous false positive is Machine Doubling (MD) — flat, shelf-like smearing caused by die bounce. MD is extremely common on 1917 cents and carries zero premium. The raw coin market is heavily polluted with MD coins misrepresented as FS-101s. True DDO doubling is rounded with distinct secondary images; MD is flat with no secondary image. Late Die State deterioration blurs detail uniformly — not in the directional, outward-radiating pattern of a true DDO. Never purchase a raw 1917 DDO without independently verifying the notched 7 and split serifs on TRUST.

Market Values

• ⬜ Good–Very Good (G–VG):$100–$150
• ⬜ Fine–Very Fine (F–VF):$300–$450
• ⬜ Almost Uncirculated (AU):$1,000–$2,500
• ⬜ Mint State MS63–MS65:$2,000–$7,500+
• 🏆 Trophy Grade (MS66+ RD):$19,200–$120,000+

The Brown (BN) vs. Red (RD) premium is enormous. An MS64 Brown DDO might bring $700–$1,000, while an MS64 Red can bring $3,000 or more. Color preservation over 100+ years is the critical value variable at upper grades.

Auction Records

$120,000 for PCGS MS67+ RD (Stack's Bowers, March 2019) — all-time record for the variety. $19,200 for PCGS MS65 RD CAC (November 2023) — strong recent result confirming continued market strength.

1917-D Repunched Mint Mark — D/D West

Normal 1917-D mint mark (left) vs. RPM D/D West (right) showing ghost D impression to the left (west).

Origin & Background

In 1917, mint marks were not part of the master hub — they were individually hand-punched into each working die. This manual process invited error. If the punch was positioned incorrectly and then corrected with a second strike, traces of the first impression remained in the die steel. On the 1917-D D/D West variety, the initial punch placement was too far east (right), and the corrective re-punch was struck to the left — leaving a ghost impression of the D visible to the west of the primary mint mark.

How to Identify

• Under 10x magnification, look for a secondary D impression to the west (left) of the primary D mint mark.
• The secondary impression may show as partial curves, serif traces, or a shadow image of the letter D.
• The primary D should look normal and cleanly struck; the secondary is the anomaly.

False Positives to Avoid

Die wear can make the mint mark appear fuzzy — but it will not create a directional offset (a definite secondary impression to one side only). Post-mint scratches near the mint mark are not RPMs. This is considered a minor variety compared to the FS-101 DDO and primarily appeals to specialist variety collectors.

Market Values & Auction Record

Specific auction data is not available for this variety in current reference sources. It carries a specialist premium above a normal 1917-D in equivalent grade. Professional attribution by PCGS or NGC is recommended before buying or selling.

1917-S Old Style Mint Mark Variety

Old Style S punch (left, 1909–1916 type) vs. New Style S punch (right, standard on most 1917-S cents).

Origin & Background

The year 1917 was a transition point for the S mint mark punch style at San Francisco. The Old Style S punch — used from 1909 through 1916 — was replaced with a new punch style in 1917. A small number of 1917-S cents were struck from dies prepared with the Old Style punch before the changeover was complete. Finding the Old Style S on a 1917-dated cent is the rarer of the two types and commands a premium among Lincoln Cent variety specialists.

How to Identify

• Compare your coin's S mint mark proportions and curve shape against confirmed reference images of both the Old Style (1909–1916) and New Style (1917–1941) punches.
• The majority of 1917-S cents use the New Style punch — a normal-looking S is almost certainly New Style.
• Attribution requires careful side-by-side comparison with confirmed examples; subtle differences demand expert review.

False Positives to Avoid

Die wear, die fill, or corrosion can alter the S mint mark's appearance without creating a genuine variety. Do not self-attribute based on a single coin — compare against confirmed examples of both punch types. Professional attribution is strongly recommended.

Market Values & Auction Record

Specific auction data is not available for this variety in current reference sources. It carries a specialist premium. Professional attribution is recommended before buying or selling.

1917 Off-Center Strike

1917 Lincoln Cent struck ~15% off-center. The date remains fully visible — essential for collector value.

Origin & Background

An off-center strike occurs when the coin blank (planchet) is not fully seated in the collar ring when the dies impact. The feeder mechanism — which moves blanks from the hopper into the press — occasionally fails to position the blank correctly. At 1917's high production speeds, some misaligned strikes escaped quality control and entered circulation. Philadelphia off-center strikes are relatively more common than branch mint examples due to the much higher mintage.

How to Identify

• A clearly visible blank crescent of unstruck bronze on one side of the coin.
• The design is shifted to the opposite side with partial or fully missing elements.
• 10–20% off-center with a full, readable date is the collector sweet spot.
• Date visibility is critical — an off-center strike without a visible date is worth significantly less to year-specific collectors.
• Denver and San Francisco off-center strikes are considerably rarer than Philadelphia examples and command higher premiums.

False Positives to Avoid

A coin that is slightly off-center but still shows a full, even rim all the way around is a minor misalignment — not a true off-center error. Post-mint damage such as a coin that was bent, filed, or cut is not a striking error and carries no premium.

Market Values

• ⬜ 10–20% off-center, date visible:$130–$312 depending on grade and eye appeal
• ⬜ Branch mint (D or S) off-center: Significantly rarer; commands a premium above Philadelphia examples

Auction Record

$312 for a PCGS MS64 BN example struck 15% off-center (Stack's Bowers, June 2024).

1917 Clipped Planchet

Clipped planchet showing the curved clip (left) and the Blakesley Effect — weak rim directly opposite (right).

Origin & Background

Clipped planchets result from an overlap in the blanking press. The metal strip is fed through a punch-and-die mechanism that cuts circular blanks. If the strip was not advanced far enough between punches, the next punch overlapped a previously punched hole — creating a coin blank with a curved section of metal missing from its edge.

How to Identify

• A curved (not straight) indentation in the rim where metal is absent.
• The Blakesley Effect: A weakness or flat spot in the rim directly opposite the clip — exactly 180° away. This is the authentication key. During the upsetting process that forms the rim, the upset mill cannot apply equal pressure where metal is missing; the opposite side relaxes into a weak rim. Genuine Mint-made clips always show this effect.
• Large detached lamination errors (surface peeling or flaking from alloy impurities) add $20–$50 premium when they are prominent — particularly relevant on 1917 cents given the era's rushed alloy production.

False Positives to Avoid

Straight cuts, file marks, or gouges in the rim are post-mint damage with no premium. A curved clip without the Blakesley Effect is almost certainly post-mint damage — not a genuine Mint error. The 1917-S is particularly prone to edge corrosion that can mimic small clips on low-grade coins.

Market Values & Auction Record

• ⬜ Curved clip, Good–Very Good:~$45

No specific auction record is available in current reference data for this variety on 1917 cents. The value above reflects market averages for the error type in low grade.

1917 Lincoln Cent: Common Traps — Avoid These Disappointments

These are the three most common reasons collectors believe they have a valuable 1917 cent — and are mistaken. Knowing them saves time and prevents costly raw purchases.

Machine Doubling (left, worthless) vs. true DDO FS-101 (right, valuable) — the flat shelf vs. rounded secondary image distinction.

1917-S Lincoln Cent showing the "Woody" wood-grain streaking — a planchet alloy characteristic, not a valuable error.

1917 Lincoln Cent: How Grade and Color Drive Value

Brown (BN), Red-Brown (RB), and Red (RD) 1917 cents side by side — color designation is a dominant value factor.

For the 1917 Lincoln Cent, two factors dominate value at higher grades: numeric grade (how worn the coin is, on a 1–70 scale) and color designation (how much original copper color remains after 100+ years).

Color Designations — Most Critical for Uncirculated Examples

• Red (RD): 95% or more original red copper color remaining. The most valuable designation. Finding a 1917 cent with full Red after a century is exceptionally difficult — the premium over Brown can exceed 300%.
• Red-Brown (RB): Between 5% and 95% original red remaining. A mid-range designation.
• Brown (BN): Less than 5% original red. The most common survival state for 1917 cents after extended circulation or storage. Still collectible, but carries the lowest copper premium.

Practical example: A MS64 BN 1917-P DDO might bring $700–$1,000. The same coin in MS64 RD can bring $3,000 or more — a 300%+ premium purely for color preservation.

Strike Quality — Especially Critical for Branch Mints

The 1917-D is notorious for weak strikes — even Uncirculated Denver cents often show flat hair detail and softly struck wheat stalks on the reverse. A well-struck 1917-D commands a significant premium over a weakly struck example in the same numeric grade. The 1917-S similarly suffers from strike weakness compounded by the "Woody" alloy effect, making fully struck gem examples extraordinarily rare. When evaluating branch mint cents, look for complete hair detail in Lincoln's portrait and fully defined wheat stalk lines on the reverse as signs of an above-average strike.

1917 Lincoln Cent: When to Get Professional Authentication

For most circulated 1917 cents worth under $50, professional grading is not cost-effective — submission fees at PCGS or NGC typically run $20–$65+ per coin depending on the service level. However, certification becomes essential in these situations:

• Any potential 1917 DDO (FS-101): The raw market is heavily polluted with Machine Doubling coins misrepresented as the FS-101. PCGS and NGC certification confirms genuine attribution, the FS-101 variety designation, and the color designation — all of which directly impact value. A raw 1917 DDO purchase is high-risk.
• High-grade uncirculated examples: For any 1917 cent that might grade MS63 or above, certification locks in the color designation (RD/RB/BN) and protects against future color disputes. The value spread between color grades can exceed 300%.
• Branch mint condition rarities: A 1917-D or 1917-S in potential MS65+ RD territory is worth thousands of dollars — certification is mandatory for investment purposes and resale.
• Any coin with squared rims and granular fields: If a 1917 cent shows broad, flat, sharply squared rims and a uniform pebbly texture in the fields, do not attempt self-authentication. Submit to PCGS or NGC immediately — the diagnostics for a potential 1917 Matte Proof require expert comparison against known specimens.

Consider submitting through a licensed PCGS or NGC authorized dealer to access bulk submission rates and expedited turnaround times for high-value coins.

To find a reputable dealer for buying, selling, or submitting 1917 Lincoln Cents, consult the member directories of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) or the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) — both organizations maintain ethical standards for their members.

1917 Lincoln Cent Errors: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Methodology

Values, diagnostics, and auction records in this guide are drawn from the following primary sources, cross-referenced for accuracy. Prices reflect market conditions as of early 2025 and will fluctuate with market activity.

• The Lincoln Cent Resource — 1917 DDO Diagnostics
• Variety Vista — 1917 DDO-001 Attribution
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1917 DDO FS-101 RD
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1917-D BN
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1917-S RD
• NGC Coin Explorer — 1917-P MS
• NGC Coin Explorer — 1917-S MS
• The Lincoln Cent Resource — Matte Proof Lincoln Cents
• Stack's Bowers Archives — Off-Center 1917 Lot
• PCGS Auction Prices — 1917 DDO (FS-101) realized price history