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CoinTalk > Coin Forums > Error Coins 1974 D unknown composition

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LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes 04-03-2008, 12:44 PM   #1 (permalink) Coins777-IGWT Junior Member     Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 7 1974 D unknown composition 1974 D unknown composition: I have heard that during the early 1970s, the price of copper on world markets rose to a point where the metallic value of the cent was almost equal to its face value. The U.S. Mint, which produces billions of cents annually, was faced with a potentially catastrophic operating deficit, due to issues of seigniorage. As a result, the Mint tested alternate metals, including aluminum and bronze -clad steel. A composition of 96% aluminum (with trace elements) The composition was chosen due to its longevity on coin die use, and aluminum's high resistance to tarnishing 1,570,000 examples of the new cents were struck.. Although they were produced in 1973, they were given a 1974 date in anticipation of release into circulation in that year. for stability) was chosen. The 1974 aluminum cent was a one-cent coin proposed by the United States Mint in 1973. It was composed of an alloy of aluminum and trace metals, and intended to replace the predominantly copper–zinc cent due to the rising costs of coin production in the traditional bronze alloy. 1,570,000 were struck in anticipation of release, but none were released into circulation. Examples were passed out to US Congressmen in a bid to win favor in switching to the new alloy. When the proposed aluminum cent was rejected, the Mint recalled and destroyed the examples. A few aluminum cents not returned to the Mint are believed to remain in existence. One example was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, while another was alleged to have been found by a US Capitol Police Officer. Since the United States Secret Service is tasked with the seizure of any specimens, the legality of the coins is in doubt. From Wikipedia The coin on the right is approximately 3.5g and is not magnetic so it is not aluminum nor is it clad steel. Any Ideas ? Attached Thumbnails     04-03-2008, 08:58 PM   #2 (permalink) GDJMSP Numismatist     Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: PA Posts: 24,624 Right off I have no idea other than this - your scale may be off. Normal weight is 3.11gm. Even the zinc coated steel cents of the '40's only weighed 2.7gm, so it's certainly not steel. Everything else would be lighter. Thus the only thing I can think of is that your scale is off. Take it to a jewler and ask them to weigh it. __________________ knowledge ..... share it   04-03-2008, 09:14 PM   #3 (permalink) mikediamond Coin Collector   Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,295 If your weight is accurate, and if the coin is not a struck counterfeit, then it's probably a cent struck on a foreign planchet. I did check my list of foreign coins struck by the U.S. Mint, and your coin doesn't match anything being produced by the Denver Mint in 1975. However, there are quite a few "orphan" off-metals known that don't match anything in the Mint's records. __________________ President, CONECA. Host, Error Coin Information Exchange, Yahoo:Groups. My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of any organization I belong to. Last edited by mikediamond; 04-03-2008 at 09:21 PM.   04-03-2008, 10:48 PM   #4 (permalink) hontonai Registered Contrarian   Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,587 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by Coins777-IGWT copper-zinc cent due to the rising costs of coin production Weren't zincolns still eight years in the future at the time of the aluminum experiment? Quote: The coin . . . is not magnetic so it is not aluminum Excuse me? __________________ Ethical conduct is being honest when no one is watching.   04-03-2008, 10:52 PM   #5 (permalink) jon67 Loves Lincoln's     Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: utah Posts: 705 My Mood: i would say you have a plated copper cent. i have found several. they are neat but nothing big. rub the edge with a xacto knife and see if the plating comes off. __________________ Jon WINS #731 you can view some of my coins here http://www.cointalk.com/forum/members/jon67/albums/   04-03-2008, 11:48 PM   #6 (permalink) walterallen Coin Collector     Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 1,105 My Mood: Quote: Originally Posted by jon67 i would say you have a plated copper cent. i have found several. they are neat but nothing big. rub the edge with a xacto knife and see if the plating comes off. That's what I was thinking. Yet I don't have any plated cents of any kind to compare weight differentials. Good Thinking! Allen __________________ Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Man   04-04-2008, 08:31 AM   #7 (permalink) mikediamond Coin Collector   Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,295 Plating would not add more than a tenth of a gram. The plating on zinc cents adds only .02 to .08 grams to the weight of the unplated planchet. __________________ President, CONECA. Host, Error Coin Information Exchange, Yahoo:Groups. My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of any organization I belong to.   04-04-2008, 08:48 AM   #8 (permalink) Oldman Coin Hoarder     Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 604 Might be brass.?   04-05-2008, 10:24 AM   #9 (permalink) Conder101 Numismatist   Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,082 Brass would be the same weight (in fact the cents from 1963 to 1982 WERE brass.) Also this is not a 1974-D cent as the title says. Frankly I would think the scale is probably off. Easy way to check, what does the coin on the LEFT weigh? I think it is either plated or discolored from some kind of chemical treatment. __________________ Slab collector and researcher reported as of 12/29/06 132 companies 332 production varieties   Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Would you like to support CoinTalk? Coin Talk Code of Honor 1. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you. 2. Keep it clean, like a 1950s family television show. 3. If you don't like the coin, don't trash the person. « If you had a choice... | 2006 P Nickel Jefferson has beard and warts! » Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page Display Modes Rate This Thread Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode Rate This Thread: 5 : Excellent 4 : Good 3 : Average 2 : Bad 1 : Terrible Posting Rules You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is On HTML code is Off Trackbacks are On Pingbacks are On Refbacks are On Forum Rules Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Trivia: Millennium Coins Part 8 Scandinbavia Clinker Coin Chat 4 03-18-2009 10:44 AM Brown 1974 quarter S.Knowles What's it Worth 8 08-29-2007 08:44 PM 1974 Australian Proof Set rexesq World & Ancient Coins 7 10-20-2006 10:59 PM The 1974 Aluminum Cent Inventor1210 Coin Chat 14 12-22-2005 05:15 PM 1974 Silver like Penny chris1327 Error Coins 2 09-09-2005 10:21 PM LinkBack LinkBack URL About LinkBacks

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