How much would a 1974 aluminum cent be worth? If you aren't familiar with it than here's a story. In 1973 copper prices rose significantly and the mint was trying to find different alternatives for copper. In 1974 they started minting aluminum pennies but the majority of them have been recalled except for 14. Two of them are known of but there are still twelve missing. I haven't found how much they would be worth online but maybe anyone here has an idea.
I think it's well-established that at least one of these is privately owned. Another is in the Smithsonian (I've seen this one). Any estimate of value would be a mere guess; unlike most other coins there are no public auction records, largely because the piece is of questionable legality. If the privately owned piece were completely legal to own, I'd consider $100,000 an absolute minimum value, with $250K-$500K more likely.
I agree with the statement above. With coins such as this...the only way to really put a number on them is to put one up for auction and see what it sells for. It could sell for anything, whatever a wealthy coin collector is willing to pay. Since one has never been sold at auction, there is no way to know for sure.
I also agree. I think at a public auction there is an excellent chance it would be confiscated, so I doubt any auction would be forthcoming. It would still have a value today by private treaty of course, but the price would be a fraction of what it could be if it were completely legal to own.
Oh god, now I'm scared cause I know someone that thinks he has one. I mean really though, if the gov't wants them, they can buy it back, or have 1 or 2 go up for auction and take like 15%-20% of its sale. Their fault for putting out samples and then some going out to the public, JMO!
Wow I can't believe someone actually responded to this after the thread basically died. But interesting.
If you think it was the treasury / mint's fault, that seems wrong. The samples were 'loaned' to the politicians on the committee that had to approve them if they were to become the defacto cent. Most were returned, but some politicians did not return theirs. Blame them.
There's at least one that's in private hands (with a clean provenance - I pulled up the Wiki article to double check my memory): "In the February 20, 2001, edition of Numismatic News, Alan Herbert reported the existence of an aluminum cent. It was attributed to US Capitol Police Officer Albert Toven, who had found the coin dropped by an unnamed US Congressman on the floor of the Rayburn Office Building. When the officer attempted to return the coin to the congressman, thinking it was a dime, the congressman told him to keep it. This example was graded and certified by the Independent Coin Grading Company as “About Uncirculated-58” in 2005, but later certified as Mint State 62 two months later by the Professional Coin Grading Service."
Also, here's more info (including the Secret Services stance on private ownership of these): http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/signal/coins/soltaylor111707.html
What's The Value Of 1996 United States Currency. IT'S AN ERROR. ITS A ¢.1 PENNY ALLUMINUM PENNY ¢.1. But The Size Of a NickeI ¢.5 It's Awesome Can Contact Me By ( EDITED)PM once you have 10 normal posts. Do not use email or other contact means in public.
It's not aluminum. It's not an error. It's damage. It could be plated, or, the copper plating could be removed giving it a grayish color. If it is the size of a nickel, it has been hammered between 2 leather belts to increase the size. Show a photo of the coin next to a penny and a nickel. Both sides.