What's the best bang for your buck Doubled Die?
airplanenut
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I've had a 1995 DDO cent for a long time, but I've always liked the stronger doubled dies. The question I want to pose is which one is the best bang for your buck considering strength of the doubling and cost. I'll use the 1955/55 and 1972/72 cents in an example since I'm guessing those will be the most popular choices (I'm also using the PCGS price guide to get me close--I know there are better sources of pricing information for really determining a smart buy price).
The 1972 jumps from $450 to $550 to $925 in 64/65/66RD, so you might say the 65 is the best bang for your buck since it's a small price jump over the 64, but well cheaper than the 66. That would be balanced with the fact that a 55/55, while a stronger DDO, will run $1500 in the upper circulated grades, and you might need $900+ to get one in any condition (straight grades only).
I don't know if I'll actually pick one of these up, but it's something I'm considering. $1500-$2000 is probably pushing my budget beyond where I want to go, but it does mean that an uncirculated 1955 in any color is probably out. That said, any denomination or grade, plus DDO or DDR (though I have a preference for DDO... you see the obverse first)--put down your vote. Also, anyone who votes for the 1969-S DDO gets a disagree from me, even though we can't do that anymore.
Comments
1955/55 in MS is very hard to find with nice surfaces they seem to have used crummy blanks so unless you can afford a gem I would say circulated is the way to go with nice crusty surfaces and it’d in the budget your looking at.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
I’m pretty biased towards Seated coinage, so I’d say the 1873 Arrows DDO Seated Dime. Very underrated with a strong separation in the shield doubling. For about $500, you can get a G06 and $1200 around F12, albeit a little bit of searching.
Always buying nice toned coins! Searching for a low grade 1873 Arrows DDO Dime and 1842-O Small Date Quarter.
1995 DDO Lincoln. Strong doubling yet very affordable in high grades.
Even many non collectors have heard of the 55. That would be my choice.
Jeremy, if a 1969-S is off limits, how about a 1958?😄
But on a serious note, I think the (no pun intended) striking appearance of the 1955 is unrivaled - and by a long shot.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I have the 55/55 (MS63BN), 72/72 (MS64RD), and 95/95 (MS67RD)
To me, it's a no brainer. The 55/55 by far. You already noted the 95ddo is not as dramatic. I only got it because it was cheaper and I thought I would grow to like it. Nope...it's buried away in the SDB and hasn't seen light of day for YEARS.
The 72ddo is more dramatic, obviously. I have the main one. Still, it doesn't have the age, nor the same cool story as the '55 does. I have gotten it out to view it a few times.
The 55ddo has the story, the age, the coolness factors. Originally, I had purchased an AU58 in NGC. It was a very nice AU58 (purchased from Heritage). However, Mr Feld found a NGC MS63BN that had character and, while more expensive, I paid up for it. I also sold the AU58 to a local dealer at a show at that time (made ~$200 in just a few months of holding it) and put that money into the one from Mark. It now resides, and has for awhile, in a PCGS MS63BN.
Due to the unique, simple and subtle, to me, toning it has, I wouldn't sell it for less than ~$3800, which is much more than a common looking one, in the same grade, goes for. I'd sell the 95ddo and 72ddo for much less of a difference as I don't value them as much as the 55ddo.
So, that is my answer....the 55ddo, with a great look, and either AU58 or MS63 (or better...but likely not in that price range)
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
If you cannot justify the 1955 DDO, my vote is the 1972 DDO
Maybe the 1983 DDR as an alternative.
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1961 DDR proof half dollar.
If you're not restricted to cents check out some of the early Washington 25c doubled dies-1934 Die #1 obv + rev; 1942-D DDO-001; 1943 DDO-011. There's some real monsters in that group and they are of considerable scarcity. Same goes for Roosevelt 10c which are less expensive than the 25c.
There is no doubt that the 55/55 is the king from a visual standpoint on the doubling spread, however finding a nice eye appealing one in your price range will not be easy. I have both the 55/55 and the 72/72 and imo the 72/72 is the better bang for the buck. I've never sent my 55/55 out for pics but here is my 72/72 in 65RB shot by Mark Goodman
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1955 and 1972 are the most popular and easiest to sell, and by far the 1955 is high on the coolness scale.
But as far as value AND coolness I might look elsewhere and try to cherrypick a cool shield nickel variety.
There are likely still a few really nice ones that can still be plucked out of dealers' inventory, but it isn't near as easy as it was in the 80s or 90s.
Those were the days when variety guys like me ran amok.😀 (And there weren't that many of us back then.)
If you want strong doubling and the most affordable, look no further than the shield nickel series. Monster DDOs and reasonable prices. Here's an example:
http://www.shieldnickels.net
An under appreciated variety that can be had for $275 in MS-65 PCGS with a little searching. Make sure to get one without a bunch of bubbles in the planchet.
Another vote for the 1955DDO. An extremely popular coin that is quite dramatic looking. Are there any US coins that have more doubling than this coin? If there is, I sure can't think of it.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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That photo is identical (almost) to the cover of CoinAge magazine announcing their discovery back in the day.
1934-D Vam 3 DDO Peace dollar
little to no premium, around $300 for ms63
I vote for the '55 DDO... It is a coin from my childhood that was (and is) really unique....I wish I had the two from back then... long gone. Cheers, RickO
As a Buffalo nickel guy, I'll go with this one.
I like this one...
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Thanks for the thoughts thus far. I think the 55 looks like the winner, even if I can't get a particularly high grade (relative to most other coins of the era, where a gem wouldn't break the bank). While some of the varieties are certainly neat, the difference I see is how obvious they are to me and to someone else. When doubling is in a design, even if it's strong, it can just look like part of the design unless you know it's wrong. With something like the 55 (and to a slightly lesser extent the 72), it's really obvious that something's very wrong.
So now maybe I'll start looking. I might have one next week... or in a decade. We'll see.