The Fabled Aluminum Cent

johngerman

Has anyone ever confirmed whether or not the aluminum cent was ever released to certain gov't. officials? I remember reading an article about "Illegal" coins through the years shortly after the '33 Saint resurfaced, and I just can't remember if they confirmed the possiblity that one or two might have escaped the Mint. The article stated that they struck the coin in aluminum to see how the relief would be and to make sure the design was going to be acceptible to the Mint's standards. It then stated that the examples were shown around to various people in and outside the Mint but I can't remember if any were given to "Higer-ups" at all. If I remember right, there were only 7 or 9 examples struck of this piece and they were to be destroyed after approval.
My other question would be, if that coin somehow survived or was even existing, and the Mint allowed the private ownership of this coin (Which as we all know probably would never happen), do you think it could break the "Saint's" record at auction. My friend asked me the other day which coins I thought might have a shot beating it and immediatly thought of that one and the 1849 Liberty Head Double Eagle. The 1849 lives in the Smithsonian on diplay in the NNC (Nat'l. Numismatic Collection). Chances are more than good that that gold piece will never see private ownership, all-though I must admit I'm sure it would beat the pants of the Saint if it was ever allowed to! The other coin I thought of was the Childs specimen of the 1804 dollar. It was the record holder before the Fenton-Farouk Saint hammered down @ a cool 7.59 mil. If I remember correctly the Childs 1804 dollar went just over 4 mil., like 4.14 mil. or something like that. What do you guys think might have a chance of beating the "King"?

ksteelheader

I had one in hand and photographed it.

ksteelheader

Oh yes, ICG certified one also!!

johngerman

Had an aluminum cent? Are you not worried?

ksteelheader

<< <i>Had an aluminum cent? Are you not worried? >>



About what??

johngerman

Really? ICG. Must be legal to own then huh? Well then, THAT coin won;t win!

johngerman

Now I'm talking aluminum, not the steel cents during the war.

ksteelheader

<< <i>Now I'm talking aluminum, not the steel cents during the war. >>

joeyuk

past thread

ksteelheader

<< <i>past thread >>




A real good thread about the one I held!

cladking

<< <i>past thread >>



There are a couple better threads with much more info around somewhere.

The dies were used to strike around 1 1/4 million coins if memory serves and the
bulk of these coins were destroyed in one large melt. Several coins were later found
caufght up in the machinery and also destroyed. Large numbers were given out as
samples to Congress when it was believed that these would be standard issue but
subsequently withdrawn. Several pieces remain accounted for and are considered lost.

The design was modified in mid 1974 to accomodate the striking of aluminum creating
a large date and small date for all three mints. None is especially scarce though all
the small dates are tougher and nice choice S mint coins can be much tougher.

Shamika

Ken,

I thought you posted an image of the one you held. Am I mistaken?

Shamika

I found two images of the fabled cent on my hard drive, but the damn 50k upload limit on this forum doesn't allow me to attach the image.

coinnut86

Yah Ken, can you post the one you photographed, I wasn't here when that thread took place

thanks

ksteelheader

<< <i>Ken,

I thought you posted an image of the one you held. Am I mistaken? >>



I did, but lost it when my puter crashed!

Shamika

Ken,

I have your image. PM your email address and I'll send it to you.

ksteelheader

Here is the pic of the one I had and photographed (the first one) and also a pic of the ICG certified one.

Thanks to Shamika for saving these and sending them to me!!

coinnut86

pontiacinf

<< <i>

<< <i>past thread >>




A real good thread about the one I held! >>



i remember michael telling me about that...all i can say is wowsier

Tootawl

Agreed. This is no fable. I also held it in my own hands. I had to ask what the heck it was since at teh time I've never heard of a aluminum cent before.

ksteelheader

I'm just so darn happy to have my picture back again!!!

Outhaul

<< <i>Also, since the story told regarding this cent involves the coin being carried around by a congressman, does that automatically make it an AU? >>


Hey...If a chopmarked trade dollar can be considered UNC then why not an aluminum cent carried around in a pocket?

tradedollarnut

Also, since the story told regarding this cent involves the coin being carried around by a congressman, does that automatically make it an AU?

'Uncirculated' is not an absolute, but rather an assessment of condition.

Yes, a chopped trade dollar can be 'uncirculated'.

Outhaul

I appreciate and respect your opinion, TDN, but it's damage in my opinion.

Cheers,

Bob

tradedollarnut

but it's damage in my opinion.

So is a big honkin' bagmark, but that doesn't stop a coin from being MS60...

Outhaul

I don't understand why you get so friggin ornery and defensive about this topic. There's a huge differenc between a coin getting a bag mark and some guy whacking at a coin with a hammer and die.

Your opinion is your opinion, mine is mine.

tradedollarnut

I don't understand why you get so friggin ornery and defensive about this topic.

ksteelheader

Shamika

<< <i>Thanks to Shamika for saving these and sending them to me!! >>


Hey, it's not every day you get to see an aluminum cent (imaged or otherwise). Whenever I get the chance to see a super rarety like this, I save the image as fast as I can.

BigE

Very cool image Shamika kept for you Ksteelheader, to both of you-----------------BigE

johngerman

why is the word aluminum highlighted?

kranky

Did you go to the search page and search for the word "aluminum"? If you click a thread from the search page, whatever you searched for will be highlighted.