Is this what I think it is?

Okay so hmmmm......any guesses what it's made of?

 

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Well my guess considering it's a 74 would be cooper.

 

It's copper.. What makes you question it?
Hmmmmmmmm?

 

Well the way he stated the question I would have to guess he thinks it's aluminum.

 

I'll hazard a guess and say ..... copper mostly.

 

The obverse looks like cleaned copper. The reverse looks to be normal.

 

Did it belong to Gary Cooper?

 

95% copper and 5% zinc.

 

It's normal.

 

I'm with furryfrog

 

Frog took my answer.
Reverse appears cleaned (pink).
Obverse appears plated but that could be the light in my eyes on a cloudy day I've got sunshine.

 

If the OP would weigh the coin, they'd
find it weighs 3.1 to 3.2 grams, or 48 to 49 grains.

It's a cleaned copper cent, nothing else.
Doesn't look close to Aluminum in the photos.

 

yeah that's the problem....I can't get the photos to come out the way it actually appears. I've been trying all kinds of different light bulbs....any ideas?

 

Assuming you still think aluminum, is it worth the hassle that you will be forced to return it to the government or do some really seedy transaction with people you don't know and have to somehow launder the money from the transaction?

Just weigh it. It should weigh ~1g according to wikipedia, but more than likely it will be ~3.10g

 

Just a normal cent that has been cleaned, no need to go any further.

 

The aluminum cents are very light 0.93 grams.
The last one was confiscated by the (Treasury Dept?).
Even if you had one which you don't it's an illegal coin.
I don't think they were D mint marked.

 

They were. At least the one at the Smithsonian collection that I’ve seen is Denver minted.
https://coinweek.com/featured-news/...will-offered-heritage-central-states-auction/

 

OK I wasn't sure. I thought they were Phillies and too lazy to look it up this AM
on my way out to the gym.

 

Weren't any 74 AM's so far as I know.

 

Is it worth it? Yes. Most definitely. They would have to pry it from my dead cold fingers and I'm not entirely sure I would sell it .... The only thing worth selling it for would be to build a homeless shelter here in Escondido.