1955 values by mint mark
A coin with no mint mark was struck in Philadelphia.
| Coin | Mint | Mintage | Value, worn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Philadelphia, no letter | 330,580,000 | $0.02 to $0.03 |
| 1955-D | Denver | 563,257,500 | $0.02 to $0.03 |
| 1955-S | San Francisco | 44,610,000 | $0.02 to $0.04 |
Not sure which one you have? Scan it, and Coin Finder reads the mint mark for you.
Scan your coinIs yours the 1955 doubled die (front)?
1955 doubled die (front)
$858 to $2,464
The stamp (die) for the front had a doubled image. The date and LIBERTY / IN GOD WE TRUST are strongly doubled, and you can see it without a magnifier.
Listed for 1955.
The app shows this checklist for the coin you scan.
How to tell
Start with the front of the coin and work through these steps:
- Check the date. It must read 1955 and the back must show two ears of wheat. This is the Lincoln wheat design by Victor D. Brenner.
- Look at the mint mark. A 1955-D has a D, a 1955-S has an S, and a 1955 with no mint mark came from Philadelphia. The doubled die is listed under the 1955 with no mint mark.
- Look at the date. On the doubled die, the date looks like two images stacked on each other. The doubling is strong, not a faint smear.
- Look at the lettering. LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST show the same strong doubling. You can see it with your eyes alone, so a coin that needs heavy magnification to show doubling is not this one.
- Compare it with an ordinary 1955 cent. Put them side by side if you have one. The difference should be obvious.
The 1955 doubled die
The stamp (die) used for the front of this coin had a doubled image. That is why the date and the lettering all repeat. Its value is for coins from lightly worn (Extremely Fine) to never used (uncirculated), and where a coin lands in that range depends on its condition. An actual sale can differ from any listing.
Common 1955 pennies
If your coin does not show the doubling, it is one of the common ones, whatever its mint mark. A worn one is worth $0.02 to $0.03. The 1955-S had the fewest made of the three, but it is still common.
Condition matters
Wear lowers a coin's value. For a common 1955 the difference is small. For the doubled die, condition makes a very large difference.
Do not clean your coin. Rubbing, polishing or dipping a coin leaves marks and lowers its value, and a cleaned coin is harder to sell. Handle it by the edges and keep it dry.
Other wheat pennies to look for
The 1955 is not the only wheat cent worth a second look. The 1909-S with V.D.B. on the back is the most valuable date, and the 1914-D and 1931-S are also hard to find. Read the guides to the 1909, 1914, 1922, 1931 and 1943 cents. For the whole series, see Lincoln wheat penny values.
Metal value
- $0.04 for bronze (95% copper, 2.5% tin, 2.5% zinc, 3.11 g). The 2.5% tin is left out: it adds a small fraction of a cent.
Questions
Is a 1955 penny worth anything?
Most are worth only a little more than face value. Only the doubled die is worth far more than a common 1955, so check the date and lettering before you set the coin aside.
How do I know if I have the doubled die?
Look at the date and at LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST on the front. If all of them are strongly doubled and you can see it without a magnifier, you may have one. Get it checked by a dealer or a grading service to be sure.
Does the mint mark change the value?
Not for the common coins: the 1955, 1955-D and 1955-S are worth about the same. The doubled die is listed under the 1955 with no mint mark, so a D or S coin is not that variety.
Should I clean my 1955 penny?
No. Cleaning lowers the value of any coin. Leave it as you found it.
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