Who knew eBay has a Aluminum Lincoln cents
markelman1125
Posts: 1,769 ✭✭✭✭✭
I thought these were illegal to own in private hands
Or is it only for the 1974?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/274503441955?hash=item3fe9ae1e23:g:VL0AAOSwJVxgLCuY
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markelman1125
Posts: 1,769 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
I did
Mike @Byers has been hot on the aluminum cent scene recently. He has great coins so I enjoy following them.
I don't know. This is a coin that's worth running by the US Mint for legality given the history with the 1974-D.
Here's the coin on Mint Error News. I browsed the article but didn't see any indication this was presented to the US Mint for review.
https://minterrornews.com/issue56.pdf
Not sure how it is legal to own given that it was an intentionally created error that left the mint surreptitiously. IE look at the 1974-D which has been determined not legal to own.
That coin is fine/legal.
I sold it to Mike a few months ago.
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
Good to know the provenance. I didn't see it mentioned in Mint Error News but it's great info.
Who determined it's legal to own? Was it reviewed by the US MInt?
Other coins that were sold for a decade came back as not ok in the past, e.g. 1933 DE. The 1974-D, which isn't okay to own, was also reviewed and slabbed by a TPG.
Mint Error News does say the following:
It's legal because the coin is struck
on an errant foreign aluminum planchet,
not on a .93 g US Cent planchet, imo.
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
The 1974's are only illegal because they were made as demos and not released. They aren't illegal because they are aluminum.
A 1977 aluminum error was not made as an internal demonstration piece and is not, therefore, illegal. A 1977 aluminum vent is no different than a 1977 vent struck on a dime planchet.
[The fact that it may be shenanigans is a separate matter.]
It's very different as the cent planchets were under stricter control from my understanding. A dime planchet or foreign coin planchet would be, and is, more common as an error.
I'd personally want a cent planchet piece to be reviewed by the US Mint.
Ah. The other shoe drops. It's not a US aluminum cent planchet as suggested in the article:
From what Fred is saying, it's not conceivable that this is an official US aluminum planchet cent from 1974 or 1975 which this article seems to suggest.
How the mint determines what's legal to own and what's not...
Zions- the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia did not strike aluminum coins for foreign countries like the San Francisco Mint did in the 1970’s. The weight of the 1977 Aluminum Cent also does not match the weight of any of the S.F. Aluminum planchets that were used for foreign coins. In addition, it is fully sized with a full edge and rim. U.S. Cents, Nickels and Dimes that were struck in S.F. on foreign aluminum planchets are smaller and lighter.
It seems like Fred has a different opinion. It would be useful to get this straightened out.
Nothing to straighten out.
'It is conceivable' is what Mike says.
I won't argue that it's 'conceivable'.
for PCGS. A 49+-Year PNG Member...A full numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022
In this case, your reason for legality wouldn’t be applicable.
Zions- Fred and I were not there when this 1977 Aluminum Cent was struck. NGC was not able to match it either. In my opinion and in the opinion of many other experts prior to the article being published, there are several possibilities that could explain how this coin was produced. Even if Fred’s opinion is accurate, it had to be struck on an aluminum planchet from the S.F. Mint intended for a foreign planchet, yet struck on a full sized, full rim, full edge aluminum planchet in Philadelphia, which sounds intentionally produced. An ‘intentionally made mint error’ was one of the listed possibilities. Fred feels it’s on an errant foreign aluminum planchet. Nothing to straighten out and it will remain a mystery how it was produced full size and what planchet was used.
Now the story all comes together.
Thanks for the explanation Fred. I for one was not thinking foreign planchet.
Pete
I knew that.
Very cool and interesting. It certainly wasn’t kid-gloved after production given how beat up it looks. Perhaps its poor condition more supports the notion of unintentional?...or someone beat on it intentionally to support such a story? Regardless, being unique in such a popular series, I imagine there are worse ways to spend 300k+. ⭐️
Interesting find. Makes me feel that there is still hope of finding a special treasure in change. Cheers, RickO