1974 D VDB experimental bronze-clad steel cent
bowtechredneck
Posts: 32 ✭
This is my latest find what do you guys think
Tagged:
1
bowtechredneck
Posts: 32 ✭
Comments
I think it looks like a regular bronze cent that's been plated, and the plating is peeling off in places.
Yep, that is what it looks like to me also.
awesome find, too bad about the obverse field scratches
You guys are absolutely awesome yes your right it is bronze plated
The steel is under the bronze my friends
If you guys look closely on the other side of the coin above the date serious damage that damage is a deep scratch obviously where someone might have scratched it deliberately but it is Steel and sticks to a magnet
Yes you're right my friend but the aluminum experimental planchet it's worth two million I'm sure the steel planchette being with a scratch on it is still worth 250,000. 00 since it is 1 of Maybe 12 that exist
That's what happens when someone is to quick to jump to conclusions!
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
I never knew that this coin ever existed of course we all dream about finding that 1943 bronze penny worth millions but there are very few out there and none of us collectors will ever find that penny because there's not enough I have found a 1974 steel penny is just as rare as a 1943 copper penny I have found a super rare coin I know it's not fake I've looked at it with the microscope
??? He asked what people think and I told him what I thought. As you might imagine (I hope, anyway), one cannot authenticate such a coin from an image on a computer screen.
According to this article in Coin World:
"1974 bronze-clad steel cent?"
https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/1974-bronze-clad-steel-cent.html
these experimental coins were struck in Philadelphia. The 10 year old article also notes that those coins were not legal to own at the time of publication.
edited to add... From a link in the above article:
"The coining force required to fill the experimental dies was significantly higher than any candidate alloy except chromized steel (See Figure 6, page 56). The required pressure was high enough so that a coin was not successfully produced with image and lettering completely filled even at the limitation of the available press tonnage."
You're right I'm sorry I did ask what everyone thought but this is a coin that no one knew existed and to be honest with you I don't think I will ever have it graded because it was supposed to have been destroyed and I believe illegal to own
Coinworld:
As with the aluminum test strikes, the Mint contends the bronze-clad steel cents are** illegal** for a private individual to own. Coin World withheld the identity of the bronze-clad steel cent’s possessor to protect that person’s anonymity.
Unless the Mint does an about-face on its own, Congress would need to pass specific legislation authorizing private ownership of these experimental pieces. Hobbyists who wish to see the status of the test strikes changed may wish to contact their congressional representatives.
So where did this D mint come from???
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Oops I think I lost it guys 🤫
Well at least I was able to submit color photos of it coin world said only black and white photos existed before I lost it LOL
Gotta hate when that happens..............
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
I found it Coin roll hunting I go through a $25 box of pennies once a week that I get at my local Wells Fargo
Im a poor man why would the government take my penny hopefully it can anonymously change ownership
The simple answer is, because they can..............if they choose to
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Did you weigh it?
I bet it weighs "bronze" not "steel"
I think @MasonG is correct except that I don't think that is bronze on the surface. I think it's glue.
@bowtechredneck "your right it is bronze plated"
Isn't plated different than clad?
I know that this is a waste of time buy here we go....
The simple test you haven't mentioned is the magnet test. It should he strongly attracted to a magnet. Is it?
The cents in question were struck in Philadelphia - yours is from Denver.
Most importantly, the CW article says the experimental cents were clad - three layers. What does the edge of your coin look like?
Also, if a clad layer separates after striking, the underlying surfaces will be very, very mushy or blurred, not sharply detailed.
And if cladding separated, it would not be missing in a splotchy pattern.
Not even close
This cent would need professional authentication.... and so far, we have the authority of @FredWeinberg indicating it is not what the OP claims. I will wait for further inputs, but it looks like a Denver cent to me. Which further refutes the historical reference to experimental alloy cents. Cheers, RickO
I have a 1943 steel penny I will weigh them both
Yes it is strongly attracted to a magnet
And how about the other questions? 🤔
And BTW, where's the rust?
That much wear and tear, so much in fact that the supposed bronze cladding was torn away, but the steel is still bright and shiny?
Plating cents was a common high school science experiment to teach the concepts of electrochemistry. The student would get to keep the experiment when done
Depending on how the plating was done, nickel could have been used and that's magnetic
The info you provided stated that the experimental coins were clad. Your coin is plated. Look at the edge of a dime or quarter to see an example of a clad coin and you'll easily conclude yours is not clad. Also check the edge of your cent to see if if it has the characteristic 3 layer "sandwich" appearance.
You received excellent answers from very knowledgeable numismatists include the top expert on US error coins. If you still disagree, send it in for authentication. Without authentication, the coin will always be considered a post mint plated coin and worth 1 cent. You'll be wasting your money, but if you insist you have something and the experts are wrong, that's the only way to go
I think that post is worth repeating.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
The bottom line is that you need to get it authenticated and slabbed by one of the major grading services before anyone here will take it seriously. The fact that it's strongly attracted to a magnet is a good sign so it's worth submitting.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I will post the weight and side photos when I get off work
Or maybe $1,000 on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403519561383?nma=true&si=aC9gRBqDaz5Q049iLUXZX5PqFdY%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
@MasonG Thanks for letting us know that this fake "experimental" cent was being marketed on eBay.
I just came here to see if Fred showed up
Steve
Yeah, I would have listed it first and then asked if it was authentic.
Spam
Not sure if it's spam, the seller ended it on 3/9 and it is not still active, they came here to post on 4/12
This person doesn't understand what they have or don't have and appears new to coin collecting and new to ebay.
The OP need some help/education and is over excited about their rare find and not sure how to handle things properly.
The people on Coin Help U Community have already tried to provide some education a month ago...
"How much is the 1974 D VDB experimental bronze-clad steel planchet cent worth"
https://coinauctionshelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22377
Re: How much is the 1974 D VDB experimental bronze-clad steel planchet cent worth
Post by Bowtechredneck » Mon Mar 14, 2022 9:13 pm
Yes I have weighed my coin it weighs 3.15 G
https://coinauctionshelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22377
Interesting. Although he could be just that...er...stubborn? Ignorant?
I asked him to weigh it. He said he would weigh it when he got home from work. Let that thread you posted, he weighed it last month and it weighed 3.14 grams which proves it is NOT aluminum.
So, he either forgot he weighed it, making him perhaps...unique himself. Or he's trolling under a different bridge.
>
Yes, I just saw your link and,s expected, weighs what you would expect a thickly plated bronze to weigh.
This post has been moved to Buy Sell Trade.
OP may want to get the coin graded if they feel the coin is a rarity
I hesitated on posting the link, didn't want to be accused of jumping to conclusions again.
If he does could you arrange to have someone record the graders' reactions on video when they see it? Pretty please?!
The OP's coin has not been for sale on ebay for over a month and they have not offered it for sale here.
The OP appears to be seeking information and is having a hard time accepting what they are being told here and on other forums.
Looks like Rust o leum 75' without proper die 'primer' application
My girlfriends father is a coin collector. He has thousands upon thousands of coins ranging from foreign to domestic. I was taking a look at his extensive collection when we were searching his 43 steel cents. At the bottom of his roll, we found a 43 copper, we knew it was copper because it wasn't magnetic. I held it in my hand and needless to say it was a surprise for both of us, it looked like white paint was spilled on it at one point which made it seem like it was steel, but wasn't. He's sent it into PCGS for grading a couple months ago.