1974 Aluminum cent

[ed_vantage17]

So I've been reading about the 1974 aluminum cent. It seems that a few have escaped to places unknown as they were given to members of congress as samples and never returned. If one were to surface, could the owner get it graded (NGC, PCGS, etc.) without having to worry about the Secret Service coming after them or i this an "illegal" coin like the '33 double eagle was considered to be for the longest time.

[Thogey]

Why this sudden interest? Do you have one? Hummmmm? Don't be afraid. Show us a picture.

1964 Peace Dollars have the same stigma. There were a couple hundred thousand minted and destroyed. They are illegal to own, if they exist at all.

The 1913 liberty nickels were all owned at one time by the same guy. I think he was an army colonel.

This guy also owned the only sheet of 'inverted ginny' 24 cent airmail stamps. He broke up the sheet and sold them.

It's good to have connections.

[Morsecode]

It should be illegal, according to Treasury's own regs and the Secret Service's involvement back in the mid-70's attempting to round up the strays. But this was slabbed in 2005:



PCGS also says they have slabbed one example.

For whatever reason, the gov't is not pressing the issue...at the present time. If I had one I'd probably not admit to it until sufficient time passed that a hands-off precedent had been set by these two publicized examples.

As for the '33 double eagle, a recent court ruling upheld that they will remain illegal to own, except for a single specimen that was granted special consideration and sold by Stack's in 2002.

[Thogey]

AU-58?

That's funny. Did someone run it through a gumball machine?

[Morsecode]

Good point!

But they weighed less than a gram and wouldn't work in vending machines.

Mr. Toven, a retired Capitol policeman who found the coin, was reportedly fond of showing it off, so I presume it got passed around enough to give it that circulated look.

[ed_vantage17]

I read about this AU-58 one on wikipedia.

No I don't have one...(or do I?) . Just interested in odd and unique coins and I ran across this one on the interwebs today.

[mhh]

According to a magazine article that I read several years ago, the aluminum cents SHOULD be legal to own. They were distributed by the mint director to members of congress and others without a stipulation that they be returned, so they SHOULDN'T be considered government property. But they are NOT legal tender, since they were minted as "samples" with a metallic composition and weight not authorized by Congress.

[Rodebaugh]

It should be illegal, according to Treasury's own regs and the Secret Service's involvement back in the mid-70's attempting to round up the strays. But this was slabbed in 2005:



PCGS also says they have slabbed one example.

For whatever reason, the gov't is not pressing the issue...at the present time. If I had one I'd probably not admit to it until sufficient time passed that a hands-off precedent had been set by these two publicized examples.

As for the '33 double eagle, a recent court ruling upheld that they will remain illegal to own, except for a single specimen that was granted special consideration and sold by Stack's in 2002.

Leave it up to ICG to muff up a grade......that coin now sets in a PCGS holder MS-62

[Rodebaugh]

PS: I have 5 ounces of gold for anyone that has an MS authentic one for trade.

[hobo finds]

PS: I have 5 ounces of gold for anyone that has an MS authentic one for trade.

New contest

[ScottyTX]

PS: I have 5 ounces of gold for anyone that has an MS authentic one for trade.

Ohh wow, How much for a 1992-D Aluminum penny?? I have one of those but I "suspect" it may not be authentic.............

[Morsecode]

Ok, that makes sense. I was wondering why both grading services were claiming to have slabbed the Toven piece.

[ed_vantage17]

Well the good news is, if I ever find one it'll be caught by the Ryedale when I do zinc then copper accepts. I'll be sure to check my boxes this weekend and get back to you.

[Rob72830]

Back in the 1800's the mint made lots of patterns of various coins for congress and other big shots that are in private collections today. Seems to me that these aluminum cents should be legal to own. This was a pattern not made for circulation but given out. Double Eagles were stolen. Big difference. I wish I had one of those cents. That would be some expensive aluminum.