1959 Lincoln Cent Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties

In 1959, the Lincoln cent turned fifty — and the U.S. Mint marked the occasion by retiring the Wheat Ears reverse and debuting Frank Gasparro's Lincoln Memorial design. This high-speed changeover across two Mints, producing over 1.8 billion coins, left behind a trail of spectacular errors: a triple-punched mintmark, a dramatic doubled die worth nearly $6,000, a coin struck on a silver Roosevelt Dime planchet, and — most controversially — a single coin that should never have existed. Check your 1959 cent's base value first, then read on to see if yours is one of the rare ones.

1959 Lincoln Cent: Specifications & Mintage

The 1959 cent is a bronze alloy coin — 95% copper with 5% tin and zinc. This composition is distinct from the post-1982 zinc cents; the high copper content gives pre-1982 cents an intrinsic metal value above face value. These specs are also the primary diagnostic tools for identifying wrong-planchet errors: any coin that deviates significantly from standard weight or size is worth examining closely.

Essential tools: a 10× jeweler's loupe for die varieties and a digital scale (accurate to 0.01g) for planchet errors. See base values for standard 1959 cents →

1959 Lincoln Cent: Quick Checks — Do You Have Something Valuable?

Work through these checks in order. Checks #1–#5 may indicate a valuable variety; the final two are traps — extremely common look-alikes that are worth face value only. Valuable checks are highlighted in green; traps in red.

1959 Lincoln Cent: Error & Variety Values at a Glance

Standard Values by Mint & Grade

Error & Variety Values

1959 Lincoln Cent: Valuable Errors & Rare Varieties — Detailed Guide

1959-D Wheat Reverse Mule — The Most Controversial Lincoln Cent Ever Struck

The unique 1959-D cent: 1959 obverse paired with the Wheat Ears reverse, retired after 1958.

Origin & Background

A "mule" is a coin struck from obverse and reverse dies that were never meant to be paired. This specimen bears a 1959-D Lincoln cent obverse alongside the Wheat Ears reverse — a design officially retired after 1958. Only one example has ever surfaced. Discovered in 1986 by Leon Baller (who purchased it for $1,500), it was submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 1987. The Secret Service's Forensic Services Division microscopically and metallurgically examined the coin and concluded it was genuine — the alloy matched 1959 specifications and the strike characteristics showed no evidence of spark erosion or casting. Despite this federal authentication, PCGS and NGC have consistently returned "No Decision" verdicts, refusing to assign a numeric grade. The prevailing theory: a Mint employee intentionally paired a leftover 1958 reverse die with a 1959 obverse for a single unauthorized strike — a so-called "midnight special." The statistical impossibility of only one surviving example (a genuine press error would have produced hundreds before discovery) strongly supports this theory. Convicted forger Mark Hofmann claimed from prison to have manufactured the coin via spark erosion, but the Secret Service's forensic analysis explicitly found no such evidence.

How to Identify

• 1959 date with D mintmark on the obverse
• Wheat Ears reverse (two stalks of wheat flanking ONE CENT) instead of the Lincoln Memorial
• Strike characteristics consistent with genuine U.S. Mint production
• Single known example — finding a second would require extraordinary authentication

False Positives to Avoid

Machined "Magician's Coins" where a 1958 Wheat reverse is physically joined to a 1959 obverse shell. Always check the rim for a fine circular seam and perform the ring test (genuine solid coins ring clearly; joined pieces thud).

Market Values

• 1986 private purchase: $1,500
• 2003 Goldberg Auctions: $48,300
• 2010 Goldberg Auctions: $31,050
• Current estimate: $50,000+ (highly speculative; lack of PCGS/NGC slab limits liquidity)

Auction Record

$48,300 for the unique specimen (Goldberg Auctions, 2003). Read the full investigation at PCGS's in-depth article on the Mule.

1959 Doubled Die Obverse — FS-101

Normal LIBERTY (left) vs. DDO FS-101 with notched serifs and strong spread toward center (right).

Origin & Background

A Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) forms during die manufacturing. Working dies are created by pressing a master hub — the positive image — into a steel blank multiple times ("hubbing") to fully transfer the design. If the die was not perfectly realigned between impressions, a secondary overlapping image was permanently cut into the die. Every coin struck by that die carries the doubling. The FS-101 designation comes from the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties and is listed as a major variety by PCGS. It exhibits Class I (Rotated Hub) doubling, the most visually dramatic type.

How to Identify

• LIBERTY: Significant spread toward the coin center with notched serifs — letter tips appear split or double-tipped. Distinct separation between primary and secondary images.
• IN GOD WE TRUST: Clear doubling especially on GOD and TRUST.
• Date: Also shows doubling.
• The secondary image is raised and rounded, matching the relief of the primary design — this distinguishes it from machine doubling.
• Compare to PCGS CoinFacts photos at PCGS #37953.

False Positives to Avoid

Machine Doubling (MD) creates a flat, shelf-like appearance — the secondary image looks like metal was sheared sideways, with no split serifs. MD is rampant on 1959 cents and adds zero value. If your doubling looks like a step or shadow, it's MD. Only a raised, rounded secondary image with notched letter tips qualifies as a true DDO.

Market Values

• MS64 RD: $125–$160
• MS65 RD: $150–$360
• MS66 RD: $800–$850
• MS67+ RD: $5,887 (record)

Auction Record

$5,887 for MS67+ RD, Heritage Auctions, 2016. This variety is a key entry in competitive PCGS and NGC Registry Sets, sustaining strong demand at top grades.

1959 Cent Struck on Wrong Planchet

Normal copper penny (left) vs. a silver-colored cent struck on a 90% silver Roosevelt Dime planchet (right).

Silver Dime Planchet Error

In 1959, Roosevelt Dimes were struck on 90% silver planchets measuring 17.9 mm and weighing 2.50 grams. Occasionally a silver dime planchet was accidentally fed into a cent press. The resulting coin appears silver-colored and is noticeably smaller than a normal penny — parts of the Lincoln design (LIBERTY, date) may be cut off because the dime planchet is narrower than the cent dies. The definitive test is weight: 2.50 grams = silver dime planchet; 3.11 grams = standard cent. One reported example realized $750; comparable errors in better condition have approached $2,750.

Foreign Planchet Error

In 1959, the U.S. Mint also struck coins for foreign nations, including the Dominican Republic. Foreign planchets occasionally mixed into the hoppers for domestic coins. A documented 1959 Lincoln cent struck on a Dominican Republic 10 Centavos planchet sold for $3,818. Authentication requires X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) alloy testing to match the planchet to the specific foreign coin minted that year.

False Positives to Avoid

A copper cent plated with zinc or mercury post-mint looks silver but still weighs 3.11 grams. An acid-dipped coin shows uniformly mushy details without the blank-planchet cutoff visible on genuine wrong-planchet errors. If it weighs 3.11g, it is not a genuine wrong-planchet error.

Auction Records

• Silver dime planchet (circulated): $750
• Dominican Republic planchet: $3,818

1959-D Repunched Mintmark Varieties (RPM)

Normal single D mintmark (left) vs. RPM FS-501 showing bold primary D with secondary impressions to the north and northwest (right).

Origin & Background

In 1959, mintmarks were not part of the master hub — they were punched into each individual working die by hand, using a steel punch and mallet. This manual process introduced variance: if the punch slipped or required multiple blows, a second (or third) impression could land at a slightly different position, creating a Repunched Mintmark (RPM). 1959-D is one of the richest years for RPM varieties.

RPM #1 — FS-501 / WRPM-001 (The King)

• Classified as D/D/D — three distinct punch impressions
• Primary D is bold; clear secondary D marks to the North and Northwest
• Die marker (obverse): Short die gouge touching upper-right side of the first 9 in the date
• Die marker (reverse): North/South die scratches through the E in E PLURIBUS UNUM — use these to confirm the specific die pair
• Listed in the CONECA Top 100 RPMs
• Value in MS66 RD: $192
• Catalogued at PCGS CoinFacts and Wexler's Doubled Die reference

RPM #2 — WRPM-002 (D/D Strong South)

• Secondary D protrudes clearly from the bottom of the primary mintmark
• Slightly less dramatic than RPM #1 but still a collectible find
• Value in MS65: approximately $100

False Positives to Avoid

Die deterioration on a worn punch can produce a fuzzy mintmark that mimics doubling but lacks the distinct secondary letter outline and clear directionality of a true RPM. Only sharp, distinct secondary outlines with identifiable positioning (North, South, etc.) qualify.

1959 Off-Center Strikes

A 1959 cent approximately 40% off-center, showing a large blank planchet crescent with the full date intact.

Origin & Background

Off-center strikes occur when the planchet delivery mechanism fails to position the blank completely within the retaining collar before the dies close. The struck portion carries normal design detail while the misaligned portion is flat, blank planchet. The coin often has an irregular crescent shape.

Key Value Drivers

• Percentage off-center: Higher percentage = more dramatic = exponentially more valuable
• Date visibility: The full 1959 date must be visible to confirm the coin's identity and maximize value — undatable specimens are worth significantly less
• 15% off-center, MS63 RB: $132
• 40% off-center, MS61 RB: $660

False Positives to Avoid

Edge-worn or damaged coins are not off-center errors. Genuine off-center strikes have a clean, natural curved transition from struck design to flat blank planchet — not gradual fading or chipping.

1959 Broadstrikes

Normal 1959 cent with defined rim and collar (left) vs. broadstrike showing expanded diameter and missing rim (right).

Origin & Background

The retaining collar is a steel ring that surrounds the planchet during striking, defining the coin's diameter and forming its edge. When the collar fails to deploy, metal flows outward freely between the dies. The result is a coin noticeably wider than the standard 19.05 mm, with a weak or absent rim and the full design spread outward. 1959 broadstrikes are scarce; high-grade examples can approach $400.

How to Identify

• Diameter exceeds 19.05 mm — measure with calipers
• Rim is weak, thin, or absent
• Full design is present but uniformly spread outward

False Positives to Avoid

A coin squeezed or hammered after leaving the Mint shows localized damage — genuine broadstrikes show uniform, symmetrical design expansion with consistent spreading in all directions.

1959 Clipped Planchets

Clipped planchet showing a curved bite missing from the edge and a weak rim opposite (the Blakesley Effect).

Origin & Background

Clipped planchets form when the blanking press punches a new blank from a metal strip that overlaps a previously punched hole — taking a curved bite out of the new blank's edge before it can be struck.

The Blakesley Effect — Essential Authentication

The Blakesley Effect is the key to authenticating a clipped planchet: look for weakness in the rim on the side directly opposite the clip. During the upsetting process (which raises the rim around the blank), the missing metal at the clip prevents the machine from applying full pressure to the opposite side, leaving that rim section thin and weak. No Blakesley Effect strongly suggests post-mint damage rather than a genuine clip.

False Positives to Avoid

Coins that were cut or filed after the Mint have sharp, unnatural edges and will not show the Blakesley Effect. The shape of a genuine clip is always a smooth, curved arc matching the diameter of the blanking punch.

1959 BIE Die Break

BIE die break: a raised vertical mark between B and E in LIBERTY resembling the letter I.

Origin & Background

The name "BIE" comes from the visual result: a raised vertical bar between B and E in LIBERTY that resembles the letter I. It's caused by a chip or crack developing in the working die in that area. Because the letters are recessed in the die (they produce the raised letters on the coin), a die chip fills in during striking and transfers as a raised metal mark between B and E. Every coin struck after the chip formed will carry this mark.

How to Identify

• Raised vertical bar connecting or nearly connecting the B and E in LIBERTY
• The mark is raised above the coin surface — not pressed into it
• Best examined with a 10× loupe in raking light

False Positives to Avoid

A scratch or hit between B and E is incused (sunk into the surface) — the opposite of a die break, which is raised. Minor die breaks valued at $5–$25 are accessible entry-level error varieties but not serious investment pieces.

1959 Lincoln Cent: Common Traps & Worthless Look-Alikes

The three traps below account for the overwhelming majority of "error" discoveries that turn out to be worth face value. Recognizing them will save you from overpaying or being misled.

⚠️ Trap #1: Machine Doubling — The Doubled Die Impostor

What You See:

Lettering on the date, LIBERTY, or IN GOD WE TRUST appears doubled, blurred, or shadowed when viewed under a loupe.

Why It Happens:

Machine Doubling (MD) occurs during striking when the die is loose or vibrates and slides across the freshly struck coin. It is not a die defect — every coin from the same die is different. Affects millions of 1959 cents.

How to Tell It's NOT a Valuable Doubled Die:

• MD creates a flat, shelf-like step — the secondary image looks like sheared or pushed metal, not a raised impression
• No split serifs — letter tips are not notched or separated
• The FS-101 DDO shows raised, rounded secondary images with clearly notched serifs and definite separation
• Reference: NGC's guide to Doubled Dies vs. Machine Doubling with side-by-side photos

Machine doubling (left, flat step-like shelf) vs. true Doubled Die (right, raised rounded secondary image with split serifs).

Value: Face value only.

⚠️ Trap #2: Magician's Coin / Two-Headed Penny

What You See:

A 1959 cent with two Lincoln obverses, or mismatched sides (Lincoln head paired with a dime or quarter reverse).

Why It Happens:

A machinist hollows one genuine coin into a shell (retaining the rim and obverse) and shaves a second coin into a thin insert. The two pieces are friction-fitted together — entirely manufactured outside the Mint as a novelty or magic trick prop.

How to Tell It's NOT a Mint Error:

• Look for a fine circular seam on or inside the rim where the two machined pieces join — almost always visible under a loupe
• Ring test: Drop the coin on a hard surface. Solid struck coins ring clearly; a two-piece joined coin produces a dull, flat thud
• Weight will be below 3.11g due to metal removed during machining

Magician's coin rim close-up: the circular seam where two machined coin pieces are joined is clearly visible.

Value: Face value only.

1959 Lincoln Cent: How Grade Affects Error Values

For a standard circulated 1959 cent, grade barely matters — it's worth face value regardless. For error varieties, grade is everything. The FS-101 DDO demonstrates the stakes clearly:

Copper Color Designations

• RD (Red): 95%+ original mint luster — the highest value tier. The 1959 cent's high copper content makes this achievable with proper storage.
• RB (Red-Brown): Partial toning — mid-tier value for the same numerical grade.
• BN (Brown): Fully toned — lowest value tier. A Brown FS-101 DDO may not exceed $100 even in MS grades.

Store suspected error coins immediately in inert, non-PVC holders. Even brief exposure to air and humidity can shift a coin from RD to RB, costing hundreds of dollars in realized value.

1959 Lincoln Cent: When to Authenticate with PCGS or NGC

Third-party grading services (PCGS and NGC) examine your coin, assign a numeric grade, and seal it in a tamper-evident holder called a "slab." This adds market credibility, protects the surface, and is required for Registry Set competition. Here's when submission makes financial sense for 1959 cents:

• Submit: Any confirmed FS-101 DDO — the grade premium easily covers fees at MS64 RD and above
• Submit: Any suspected wrong-planchet error (silver or foreign) — values of $750–$3,818+ justify authentication cost
• Submit: FS-501 RPM in high uncirculated grades — a confirmed MS66 RD realized $192
• Submit: Major off-center strikes (20%+ off-center with full date visible)
• Skip: Circulated common-date 1959 cents (face value)
• Skip: Coins showing only machine doubling or suspected post-mint damage

The 1959-D Wheat Reverse Mule is a special case: despite U.S. Treasury authentication, both PCGS and NGC have issued "No Decision" verdicts. Any potential second example would require independent forensic verification before any auction submission.

For professional dealer referrals and buying or selling resources, consult the American Numismatic Association (ANA) dealer directory at money.org.

1959 Lincoln Cent Errors: Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Methodology

Values, diagnostics, and auction records in this guide are drawn exclusively from the following primary sources, current to January 2026:

• PCGS CoinFacts — 1959 1C RD (standard issue)
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1959 DDO FS-101
• PCGS CoinFacts — 1959-D RPM FS-501
• PCGS — The Mystery of the 1959-D Mule Lincoln Cent
• NGC — Double Dies vs. Machine Doubling
• Goldberg Auctions — 1959-D Wheat Reverse Mule lot (2003)
• Numismatic News — 1959-D Mule coverage
• Wexler's Doubled Die — 1959-D RPM reference

Auction records reflect realized prices at time of sale. Current market values fluctuate with grade, surface color (RD/RB/BN), eye appeal, and collector demand. Professional authentication (PCGS/NGC) is recommended before any significant purchase or sale.