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1969-S and 1972 double die pennies: how to spot them

4 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

In short

  • Both are strong doubled dies on the front of Lincoln Memorial pennies. Both were struck for circulation, so old rolls and jars are worth checking.
  • A real 1969-S doubled die has an S under the date. Without an S it is not this 1969-S variety; that fact alone does not identify every other 1969 cent as counterfeit.
  • In 1972, several doubled dies exist. The strong one that collectors want is the first, listed as FS-101.

Why these years

In 1969 the Mint changed the Lincoln design slightly and had trouble getting the design to transfer well from hub to die. According to PCGS, it changed how the hubs and dies were held, and the dies could then spread and double more easily. Several major doubled dies followed, including the 1969-S, 1970-S and 1972. Once the Mint changed the setup back, strong doubled dies became much rarer.

The 1969-S Doubled Die

Step 1: find the S. Look under the date. No S, no 1969-S doubled die. A normal 1969-S 1969-S is very common, since more than 544 million were made. Our G-4 estimate for the ordinary issue is 4¢.

Step 2: look for strong doubling. Check the date and the lettering for two clear, rounded outlines with a split between them 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse.

Why the S matters so much. In 1969, two counterfeiters, Roy Gray and Morton Goodman, made fake doubled die pennies dated 1969 with no mint mark. The Secret Service tracked them down. The first genuine 1969-S doubled dies were found in 1970, and at first the Secret Service thought some of them were fakes too, and destroyed them. Historical population estimates should not be treated as a current count of survivors.

Watch outBecause it is so rare and so valuable, fakes are a real risk, as the Gray and Goodman case shows. A possible one must be authenticated by PCGS or NGC.

The 1972 Doubled Die

The Philadelphia Mint made almost 2.93 billion pennies in 1972, with no mint mark 1972. A small number came from doubled dies.

FS-101, the strong one 1972 Doubled Die Obverse: the doubling on the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST is strong enough to see with little or no magnification. If you have to squint hard to see it, it's probably not this one. Our XF-40 estimate for a genuine example is $120. It is not a guaranteed sale price.

The others: a 2024 PCGS article describes nine additional 1972 doubled dies in the Cherrypickers’ Guide. FS-101 is the strongest of the group, and it's the one most people mean by "the 1972 doubled die."

Weigh it. A 1972 penny is copper alloy and should weigh about 3.11 grams. In 2024, PCGS reported a fake 1972 doubled die made by striking over a 1983 zinc penny. It weighed 2.5 grams, and traces of the old date showed under the new one. A genuine FS-101 also has a small die gouge above the D of UNITED on the back. That fake copied it too, so the gouge alone doesn't prove anything. Any possible 1972 FS-101 should be authenticated by PCGS or NGC.

Don't be fooled by machine doubling

Some 1969 and 1972 pennies show flat, shelf-like doubling from the strike, and it's easy to mistake for the real thing. Its appearance can differ between coins and it usually adds no collector premium. Real die doubling is rounded, with a split between the outlines, and it looks the same on every coin from that die.

Check yours

Start with a clear front photo. Date and lettering close-ups help an initial assessment; a possible major variety still needs independent authentication.

Check your own penny

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent mintage figures” (accessed 2026-09-26)
  2. PCGS, “America's Most Wanted - Captured!” (accessed 2026-10-05)
  3. PCGS, “Counterfeit 1972 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent” (accessed 2026-10-05)
  4. NGC, “Double Dies vs. Machine Doubling” (accessed 2026-10-05)
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