1955 Doubled Die Struck On A Tapered Planchet. Unique Or Not?

It does look pretty neat but coop said it perfect.

This coin is glorious! Noice find!

Hi gang,

Respectfully, as all can see, I was just asking if anyone else has ever seen one.

Not for the grossly incorrect (which is proven right here in the replies to this thread) unrequested education of how all collectors unequivocally function within the walls of a "camp" or having the coin badmouthed. I didn't expect either here and, frankly, it's disappointing to me. Personally I think both are detrimental to the unity of and mutual respect by collectors and the hobby as a whole. As a very seasoned professional collector that knows there's always something for someone and vise versa, as well as being an individual that can and does choose to share in anyone's joy of their own treasures, I really can't find a public or communal upside of doing either. I can't help but ponder the probable motivation in choosing to do either, let alone both, in this situation. Had I asked others their opinion of the coin it'd be more appropriate, IMOHO. That said, as long as it fulfilled someone's interpersonal needs or agenda then I suppose I provided value for them. So to them, you're welcome.

I feel empathetic for others that find it interpersonally necessary to state "I don't like your _____" when they weren't asked their opinion. But I'm likely the minority.

The fact is there are collectors in, across and commingling between every collectable category known to mankind that collect census rare. Further there are endless broad-minded collectors that don't request to be or allow themselves to be pigeonholed into a "camp".

Back to the original topic at hand; I describe this coin in regards to the particular variety in conjunction with the particular error as "unique" because I believe it to be. I believe this because to date I've not been able to find another individual that has personally seen one. Many years ago, on another forum, a prominent error dealer claimed there are several (and put the lip to my coin). However he'd never seen one. This was simply another (of many) good faith attempts to shake the bushes and see if anyone has personally seen one.

Certainly it's possible another exists, it's possible many exist, but I don't know I'd say plausible when just considering the mathematics. But yes, certainly possible. Hence my post and question. The mathematical odds of this occurrence are greater than winning the lottery twice...and this lottery only happened once. Many lotteries go without winners so as far as census rare it's a fun treasure.

THANK YOU for the compliments regarding the images, appreciated!

To answer Spence: This specimen is certified and graded by NGC as EF45 and has been for at least 13 years.

To answer Jasper62: Yes sir, tapered planchets weigh less. I haven't weighed this example because I acquired it already encapsulated so I have no way to know a definitive weight of the holder. That said I intend to remove it at some point and will weigh it at that time simply for educational purposes.

E.J. Scott

I have a vague memory of seeing a 1955 DDO with a taper that wiped out the last digit of the date. Tapered planchets are especially abundant in 1955, so it would not surprise me of there was more than one example of this error/variety combo.

Yes it is unique. If there is another tapered planchet 55, odds are the taper would be somewhere else on the coin. This satisfies both error and variety collectors. At least it would this one, if I could afford it I would give more for it than a non error 55.

It's simple, a "perfect" specimen is more common than an "imperfect" one. Supply and demand economics bs or whatever.

Aside from just trying to get an answer to a question there are some very interesting comments here;

"Confounding to me that an aberration like this could possibly be worth more than a perfect specimen." This is an interesting point of view! Thank you for sharing. In this comment would you then agree that a 1955 Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln, which is not a perfect 1955 cent, should not command a premium over a non Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent? Equally, would you agree that a non Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent on a tapered planchet should not command a premium over one on a non tapered planchet?

"Tapered planchets are especially abundant in 1955" I was not aware of this and this in very interesting knowledge you share. Would you please share what reference you use as the root of this knowledge? Thanks in advance!

Thanks all!

E.J. Scott

...I hadn't thought of it that way, but I have to admit that it's probably true.