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 ?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
