How many of you feel that there are any of the bigs still out there ie. 1943 copper, 1944 steel, 1913 Liberty V, 1959 wheat, 1974 aluminum, ect. Maybe in some ones jar of old coins or in an attic or basement, or dug up from a metal detector or so on or so forth?
The possibility is there. But the odds are probably better of winning the powerball than there being one of them out there.
Different cases. 1943 copper/1944 steel -- there's no way to know how many were made. I'd be really surprised if there aren't undiscovered examples. But I'll never live to find one myself; I'd be struck by lightning too many times first. 1913 V nickel -- there were only five made as far as anyone knows, and they're all accounted for. There was one story of a holder made to contain them that had six holes, but I think there was another explanation for the sixth hole. 1959 wheat -- there's disagreement as to whether there's even one. 1974 aluminum -- they were handed out, then confiscated, and they're illegal to own. I can't picture one circulating; it looks wrong, feels wrong, and no machine would accept it. The only ones that have turned up were handed down, not spent.
I didn't know about the 1913 Liberty V. So that suggests that they were made intentionally? I new about the 74 Aluminum and have mixed feelings about The government confiscating it. Though I wish I had one as I would take great enjoyment in messing with this government. l actually saw a 44 steal in mint shape about 35 years ago. A kid had a notebook of coins in a local coin shop here and I was too green to act on it. The son of the owner was working in his dad's stead and he didn't make an offer on anything and the kid walked. But I do remember saying to the son if he saw the coin I don't remember his response. But ohh if I knew then what I know now. The 59 wheat well I knew of the mule that was found but I understood it was deemed not genuine.
The sixth hole was for a copper strike of a buffalo nickel. Col Green had it made up and he thought the copper buffalo was as important as the 1913 nickels, so had a custom holder made. I would say there is a slight chance another 43/44 offmetal could show up. These seem to be honest errors, so a couple more might have got out. I do not think a 59 wheat exists. I would say its almost certain a 1974 cent is still around, hiding in someone's sdb playing the waiting game like the 1933 Double Eagles tried to do.
No 1959 wheat exists, at least I think Im sure a 1974 alum cent exists somewhere, but holding on to come out decades later will jack up the premium
Considering the circumstances behind the 1974 aluminum cent, I wouldn't be half surprised if the family of some former Congressman, Senator, or former staffer has one stashed away somewhere.
I was looking at some cents that I got at auction and one felt like aluminum my heart jumped but I looked closer at it was a toy game part. A fake penny. Darn.
300 million to one, multiple times, (call it three), would be 300,000,000*300,000,000*300,000,000 = 2.7x10 25th power. I think searching bags for a copper 43 or steel 44 would have higher odds, or talking to descendants of 1974 Congressional members and offering a few million for a aluminum cent. Just me.
everyone has said what i was thinking so i will leave with good luck to all in their searches for very few we all seek so much
The custom holder actually had 8 holes (I've seen it) it held the five 1913 V nickels, two pattern buffalos and one regular buffalo nickel. After the coins were sold off the holder was in the possession of Eric Newman. It may have been sold in the sale of his collection. If not I don't know where it would currently be. And yes there are probably still major rarities out there in the wild. In the past decade I think we have had 2 Continental dollars, a silver center cent, two 1943 copper cents, the 4th known 1854 S half eagle, the 4th known 1853 O no arrows half, the 4th Strawberry leaf cent, a 1792 half disme, and possibly a New England III pence show up. And probably others I don't remember. I also believe there are other 1974 aluminum cents out there as well. (I also believe there are probably 4 more 1933 double eagles out there as well.)
Thanks for letting us know. I had read somewhere about the 6 holes and the copper trial buffalo, and the whole "mystery" around the sixth 1913 V nickel. That is where I got that story, and the author debunked it by saying the sixth hole was a buffalo. If you remember, for a very long time the hobby thought there was a sixth one floating around unaccounted for.
