So today is the day to see if my customer has a 'real' 1974 alum. penny

As posted here before(http://www.cointalk.com/t229721/), he is going to bring it in, and I have a scale, gloves, etc. ready to go. If it weighs correctly, what else will help me see if it is the real deal. I will post if it is real or fake, and some photos(if I need more help or if it is fake). I know its 'ILLEGAL', but its the government's fault for releasing it to the semi-public. Its not like the $20 Double Eagle where it was in the mint, and never out in the public. All info is welcomed, and stay tuned for updates!

David aka Racinghy

 

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Good luck - will be interesting...

 

I think you need to call US MINT experts for that subject...They knew better than other how to spot fake 1974 aluminum cent.

 

We simply have different opinions. To me giving a trial strike to a sworn government official so they can intelligently vote on a coinage bill, with the caveat that the trial piece must be returned to the mint as it is US property is not "semi-public release". The US Army gave me an M16, rockets, 50 caliber machine guns, etc. Is that "semi public release", and should I have just taken those down to the local pawn shop and sold them?

Anyway, best of luck with it.

 

Well there's specific laws that doesn't allow pawn shops to buy/sell types of guns like that. Anyways, it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

I was able to find this, which will help the case to keep it for being seized by the gov't.

These coins are illegal to own. Do not consider this to be legal advice, but as a practical matter, the 1856 Flying Eagle cent had something very similar happen to it. Made as a test coin to replace the US large cent, authorization of the pattern wasn't granted until the 1857 issue. Again, test coins that were distributed were never turned in, and these coins are also technically illegal to own. But they come up for sale in major auctions every so often and I've never heard of a government seizure of any of them. Should you actually have one of the rare aluminum 1974 test coins, and someone from the government tries to take it, I would cite the 1856 Flying Eagle as precedent for you, as a collector, to have the right to keep it.

 

Conder might be able to answer better, but I thought there were series of laws passed specifically because of the 1856 FE cent and all of the other patterns being smuggled out of the mint. Point being, yes they had somewhat similar histories, but I believe new laws clarifying their illegality were passed after the 1856 FE cents, and well before the 1974 cents. That would completely change the comparison.

 

You guys are too scared... I would definitely risk it. Then I would call PCGS and get their opinion and have it certified and see if one of the big auction houses would be willing to send it. If not it would be cool to keep.

 

He also said he got it in change, so who knows. He should be in within the next 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

 

good luck!


Need any bail money donations?

 

I'll have one of my "represenatives" issue a statement if I need bail. I have bail stuff with my AAA membership, so its a start

 

after AAA the next thing will be BBB...

 

Nice haha

 

In the event that it is a normal 1974 that is altered, here is a video that you might show your customer. It describes how to make gold & silver colored cents.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/428318/make_gold_and_silver_pennies/

 

So in addition to the weight test, what else can I do that it may prove that it is the real deal?

 

This is strange. Lately there has been a lot more talk about this aluminum penny maybe you can find a price for it and that will answer the question to my old thread about the aluminum penny.

 

Not an alum. cent, but it was struck on a dime platchent!

 

nooooooooooooooooo!

Now you've done it.

 

I'm looking into my crystal ball...I see...redwin in the near future...

 

Wait what? but the date 1974 was the date when the mint temporarily made aluminum pennies. So it's a 1974 double denomination? Well they aren't as uncommon as a real aluminum penny. http://www.cointalk.com/t198033/