Never knew about the 1974 aluminum

I was searching rare pennies online and came across a 1974 aluminum penny. I have never heard about this coin before and was wondering if it is really illegal to own. Also what is it worth if anything?

 

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This is the only info I could find. To the right of the paragraph is a scroll bar to continue reading the text. Since it was only a test pattern and never officially monetized, it might not be legal to spend or own.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/coins/flash/exhibition_theme.cfm?coincode=3_01

Chris

 

Thanks for the reply, but how much would this coin sell for?

 

My understanding is that the only real example of this coin was given to the Smithsonian by the mint, and it is not legal tender. Since one would have to steal the coin to be able to sell it, one could only assume it to be virtually priceless. In other words, millions of dollars lol.

That's my understanding of the coin, I read about it in a book at the library a week or so ago. Don't remember what it was though.

 

I saw a replica online for sale. And on the back of the coin it said copy. Are their counterfeit copies of this coin?? If so, how would you be able to tell?

 

What would one do if they found another genuine 1972 aluminum cent?

 

Wow. Wonder if the g'ment will come and take it from you if they find out you have one?

 

Well, if you ever decide that you want to try and "lift" it from the Smithsonian, would you do me a favor and "pick up" the 1849 Double Eagle for me while your at it? I'll pay you for your time. LOL!!

Chris

 

If you had it, you would be better off selling it to some Saudi royalty family member.

Chris

 

Careful Chris, he'd probably get 20 years for the crime. It could get expensive. LOL

 

They also made some in Bronze- Clad Steel...

 

Are you kidding? He wouldn't get out of D.C. alive. He'd get robbed before he even got to the 14th Street Bridge!

Chris

 

what if someone was to find one? that wasn't stolen from the Smithsonian how could the g'ment have rights to take it?

 

because its not legal tender, same reason they took the sacagewa/ quaters from there owners. some of those guys coughed up a huge ransom for those coins

 

The AU-55 aluminum cent Doug showed is now in a PCGS slab as a MS-62.

Why would the government confiscate it? Because they hold to the premise that the coin was never legally released and is therefore still government property. You do not have the authority to possess it and they are just recovering what belongs to them. Same logic they are using to try and keep the 1933 double eagles.

The government has never confiscated any of the Sacagawea/quarter mules. It was determined that at least some of them were received from circulation and since the government could not prove how any given piece left the mint they were not able to claim them.

 

Unfortunately, the government can do almost anything it wants, and it is up to the public, through the legal system, to prove them wrong.

Chris

 

http://uspatterns.com/j2155.html Has anyone heard of any whereabouts of the 1975 cents?