 In 1952 , the Mint considered replacing the Lincoln cent with a new design by Mint Chief Engraver Gilroy Roberts , but Mint officials feared that the incoming Eisenhower administration would be hostile to replacing a Republican on the cent . Several thousand 1955 pieces were struck with a doubled die , and display doubling of the date . The Mint was aware of the pieces , and knew they were somewhere within a large production lot , but opted to release them , rather than destroy the entire lot . The variety did not become widely known until several years later . 
