1974 aluminum penny.

muzzman · February 10, 2021 8:57PM

Is it a test coin or fake? Weighs 0.93 grams and is aluminum alloy. Does have remnants of the dvb.

Dwight_M · February 10, 2021 9:01PM

Cool

ms70 · February 10, 2021 9:03PM

Where'd you pick it up?

NumisOxide · February 10, 2021 9:05PM

The design details are very mushy. Doesn't look authentic.

morgandollar1878 · February 10, 2021 9:06PM

I would say that it is a fake considering that the details of the coin look mushy and poorly defined.

ifthevamzarockin · February 10, 2021 9:08PM

Welcome to the forum!

A fun & exciting find but...... fake.

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1974-1c-aluminum/508060

FredWeinberg · February 10, 2021 9:27PM

Obviously fake – probably from China

astrorat · February 10, 2021 9:31PM

Fake.

What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"

mannie gray · February 10, 2021 10:08PM

Nothing new to add.
Fake.

Byers · February 10, 2021 10:09PM

Fake. Mushy strike. Most likely China.

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · February 10, 2021 10:28PM

CHINAAAAAAAAA!

relicsncoins · February 10, 2021 11:00PM

It's not aluminum, it's Chinesium.

airplanenut · February 10, 2021 11:16PM

The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:

1Mike1 · February 10, 2021 11:38PM

I would say counterfeit, but I'd ask @CaptHenway or @FredWeinberg

ooops, didn't notice Fred already answered!

Zoins · February 11, 2021 12:04AM

There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

JBK · February 11, 2021 3:07AM

I vote struck Chinese fake. The rims look cartoonishly wide to me.

That's the good news, since if it were real the govt would confiscate it.

JBK · February 11, 2021 3:08AM

@astrorat said:
Fake.

What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"

Took me a minute. I think they meant VDB.

braddick · February 11, 2021 6:17AM

ricko · February 11, 2021 6:38AM

@muzzman.... Welcome aboard.... The image of Lincoln is very soft/blurred - not the picture, the coin. Not like the images I have seen of authentic cents. I would say fake. Cheers, RickO

abcde12345 · February 11, 2021 6:48AM

I've seen those available in bulk on various Chinese type "Amazon" selling sites. Wish.com comes to mind as one of them.

astrorat · February 11, 2021 7:32AM

@JBK said:

@astrorat said:
Fake.

What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"

Took me a minute. I think they meant VDB.

Ah ...duh! I shoulda guessed that!

Onastone · February 11, 2021 7:59AM

Aluminum foiled!

CaptHenway · February 11, 2021 8:24AM

I agree with Fred.

ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ · February 11, 2021 9:42AM

@airplanenut said:
The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:

wow!! that's a stunner 🤩

BuffaloIronTail · February 11, 2021 10:11AM

@FredWeinberg said:
Obviously fake – probably from China

This is the real thing.

Pete

airplanenut · February 11, 2021 11:08AM

@BuffaloIronTail said:

@FredWeinberg said:
Obviously fake – probably from China

This is the real thing.

Pete

Looks like the one I posted

Jimnight · February 11, 2021 2:10PM

I agree ... it has that mushy fake look.

abcde12345 · February 11, 2021 2:35PM

@Jimnight said:
I agree ... it has that mushy fake look.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:30AM

@abcde12345 said:
I've seen those available in bulk on various Chinese type "Amazon" selling sites. Wish.com comes to mind as one of them.

This didn't come from there.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:32AM

@Zoins said:
There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

I've read everything on the 74. Including court case.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:36AM

@Jimnight said:
I agree ... it has that mushy fake look.

You don't think it's from finning?

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:38AM

Thanks for all comments.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:41AM

@ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ said:

@airplanenut said:
The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:

wow!! that's a stunner 🤩

The test ones wasn't well struck. Take a closer look at the one in the Smithsonian. Do a screenshot and blow it up.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:43AM

@astrorat said:

@JBK said:

@astrorat said:
Fake.

What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"

Took me a minute. I think they meant VDB.

Ah ...duh! I shoulda guessed that!

Yes I did. Didn't proof read but if people are more worried about 2 letters in the wrong place, then I feel sorry for you.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:44AM

@Zoins said:
There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

It doesn't matter. They're not illegal too have.

muzzman · February 12, 2021 4:49AM

@JBK said:

@astrorat said:
Fake.

What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"

Took me a minute. I think they meant VDB.

Dvb.> @coinJP said:

The design details are very mushy. Doesn't look authentic.

You don't think it's from finning? The video on them sure looks like it.

CoinCoins · February 12, 2021 5:07AM

I've got one of those too. Too mushy. Just a fake/novelty. I simply put it in the Dansco next to the 74D missing layer. As close as I'll ever get I guess..

Got it the same day I got this.. another phoney..

abcde12345 · February 12, 2021 6:07AM

@muzzman said:

@abcde12345 said:
I've seen those available in bulk on various Chinese type "Amazon" selling sites. Wish.com comes to mind as one of them.

This didn't come from there.

Just because you didn't purchase it off of a Chinese website doesn't mean it didn't originally come from one of them. Many unscrupulous sellers buy cheaply and in bulk from China and sell individually to naive collectors. There may have been a couple of middlemen before the "coin" reached you.

I'd also add you are not doing yourself any favors by attempting to defend your fake cent. Many seasoned collectors and dealers here provide you with sage advice and opinions based on knowledge and without an agenda. Accept it instead of trying to deflect and fight it.

Zoins · February 12, 2021 7:05AM

@muzzman said:

@Zoins said:
There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

It doesn't matter. They're not illegal too have.

Depends on the way you look at it.

Do the 10 Langbord 1933 Double Eagles matter? Do the 10 gold 2000 Sacagaweas matter? Does the 1849 Double Eagle matter?

I'd contend all these "matter" even if they can only be "owned by the people" via our institutions.

airplanenut · February 12, 2021 8:22AM

@muzzman said:

@ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ said:

@airplanenut said:
The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:

wow!! that's a stunner 🤩

The test ones wasn't well struck. Take a closer look at the one in the Smithsonian. Do a screenshot and blow it up.

I took these photos... in the vault... of the Smithsonian. Its strike and the strike on your piece are night and day.

astrorat · February 12, 2021 9:59AM

@muzzman said:

@abcde12345 said:
I've seen those available in bulk on various Chinese type "Amazon" selling sites. Wish.com comes to mind as one of them.

This didn't come from there.

Nor did it come from the US Mint.

muzzman · February 18, 2021 12:47AM

@Zoins said:

@muzzman said:

@Zoins said:
There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

It doesn't matter. They're not illegal too have.

Depends on the way you look at it.

Do the 10 Langbord 1933 Double Eagles matter? Do the 10 gold 2000 Sacagaweas matter? Does the 1849 Double Eagle matter?

I'd contend all these "matter" even if they can only be "owned by the people" via our institutions.

read the court case on the 74. and not to mention someone on here said they only handed out coins in perfect shape and thats far from the truth. pcgs graded the one from phil at ms 62 and its looks worse then mine.

JBK · February 18, 2021 2:29AM

@muzzman said:

read the court case on the 74. and not to mention someone on here said they only handed out coins in perfect shape and thats far from the truth. pcgs graded the one from phil at ms 62 and its looks worse then mine.

You are confusing condition with strike quality.

The dies used to strike your fake were mushy and had low quality details.

If you have any doubts that it is fake you should be comparing it to counterfeits. You will quickly see similarities.

MFeld · February 18, 2021 4:10AM

You’ve now posted at least two counterfeit examples - this and the 1873-CC dime - which, if genuine, would be worth a considerable sum.

Did you think they were genuine? Did you buy them from a well established source with a good reputation? Did you buy them at what appeared to be a bargain price? Did the seller(s) provide you with stories about the coins?

jmlanzaf · February 18, 2021 5:34AM

@muzzman said:

@Zoins said:

@muzzman said:

@Zoins said:
There's supposed to be up to 12 more aluminum cents out there after the Toven and Smithsonian specimens.

After the setback, the US Mint recalled the coins, but about 12 == to 14 aluminum cents were never returned to the mint. No oversight, record keeping, or statement that the coins had to be returned was made by the US Mint as examples were handed out.[2] When Federal Bureau of Investigation and other government law enforcement agencies were called in to investigate, however, some congressmen either feigned ignorance or completely denied getting examples.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent#Toven_Specimen

It doesn't matter. They're not illegal too have.

Depends on the way you look at it.

Do the 10 Langbord 1933 Double Eagles matter? Do the 10 gold 2000 Sacagaweas matter? Does the 1849 Double Eagle matter?

I'd contend all these "matter" even if they can only be "owned by the people" via our institutions.

read the court case on the 74. and not to mention someone on here said they only handed out coins in perfect shape and thats far from the truth. pcgs graded the one from phil at ms 62 and its looks worse then mine.

Then send it in to PCGS and then argue with them when they tell you it's a fake. There is little point in soliciting opinions and then arguing with them. The forum is unanimous on this and that almost never happens.

It's a fun little dollar novelty. Put it in your collection and enjoy it. If you want to consider it a million dollar rarity, that's no skin off of our collective nose.

rec78 · February 18, 2021 5:35AM

@CoinCoins said:
I've got one of those too. Too mushy. Just a fake/novelty. I simply put it in the Dansco next to the 74D missing layer. As close as I'll ever get I guess..

Got it the same day I got this.. another phoney..

What is a 1974-D missing layer? Zinc layered coins were not produced until 1982.

CoinCoins · February 18, 2021 5:45AM

whatever it is. high 5, columbo.

muzzman.. accept it. it's not real.

P.S... *THAN

jmlanzaf · February 18, 2021 5:57AM

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/1974-aluminum-cent-fakes-appear-in-bay-sales.html

FredWeinberg · February 18, 2021 2:43PM

and a more recent article, showing the OP's coin,
was published in January, in Coin World, page 8
(don't have the exact date of the issue)

1974 aluminum penny.

Comments

Leave a Comment