The Amazing 1974-S Aluminum Cent!

Zoins · June 12, 2020 7:54AM

I'm fascinated by 1974 aluminum cents and it now seems the San Francisco Mint wanted to get in on the 1974 aluminum cent action too!

This has the Mike @Byers provenance and is a Mint Error News covercoin.

TurtleCat · June 12, 2020 8:34AM

I’ve not heard of that one. I wonder if/when the mint will decide to be the devil and confiscate all the aluminum cents?

NumisOxide · June 12, 2020 8:45AM

Interesting that it's only a uniface strike.

Oldhoopster · June 12, 2020 8:46AM

I wonder when how soon before this starts making the "strike it rich from pocket change" YouTube rounds. I guess we'll know when the "is this an aluminum cent" questions start popping up.

TurtleCat · June 12, 2020 8:57AM

More likely that the counterfeit factory will start cranking up copies.

keets · June 12, 2020 9:46AM

nice ghosting on the reverse.

Jimnight · June 12, 2020 9:57AM

That's different!!

joeykoins · June 12, 2020 10:00AM

What a coin, in a class by itself indeed! Love it.

CaptHenway · June 12, 2020 10:18AM

Plausible as an artificially struck "error," like so many other artificially struck San Francisco "errors" of that time period.

MedalCollector · June 12, 2020 11:21AM

Cool error. Why not note on the slab that it is a uniface strike? I’ve seen more characters used on the label than that.

Also, it is a little misleading to call this an “aluminum cent” as this should not be considered in the same class as the experimental aluminum cents of the other mints, to which that term lends itself. No doubt, it is made out of aluminum, but struck on foreign aluminum planchet is more appropriate.

johnny9434 · June 12, 2020 11:21AM

I still like to read about this type of coin

JBK · June 12, 2020 12:02PM

@GoldenEgg said:

Also, it is a little misleading to call this an “aluminum cent” as this should not be considered in the same class as the experimental aluminum cents of the other mints, to which that term lends itself. No doubt, it is made out of aluminum, but struck on foreign aluminum planchet is more appropriate.

Agree. The dealer's description is a bit of hype.

Since there were "aluminum cents" that were purposely struck in 1974, the description he uses is a bit misleading, and perhaps intentionally so. This is a wrong/foreign planchet error.

ricko · June 12, 2020 12:11PM

That is an interesting error.... There are some fakes out there... but some authentic ones too....Cheers, RickO

Zoins · June 12, 2020 12:36PM

@GoldenEgg said:
Cool error. Why not note on the slab that it is a uniface strike? I’ve seen more characters used on the label than that.

Agree it would be nice to say uniface on the slab.

Also, it is a little misleading to call this an “aluminum cent” as this should not be considered in the same class as the experimental aluminum cents of the other mints, to which that term lends itself. No doubt, it is made out of aluminum, but struck on foreign aluminum planchet is more appropriate.

1974 and aluminum is interesting because I don't think any of the Mints are in the same class with each other.

It seems like:

the Philadelphia coins were official
the Denver coins were done unofficially, but how did they get the planchets?
the San Francisco coins were done unofficially using existing foreign planchets.

Mint Error News calls it the "Unique 1974-S Aluminum Cent" which PCGS calls it "On Philippines 1S Planchet".

I think it's certainly a more interesting coin to think about what Mint employees were thinking about and doing with aluminum cents in 1974 especially since both the Denver and San Francisco pieces seem unofficial, though different.

gonzer · June 12, 2020 1:17PM

Being struck on an undersized planchet seems to negate the comparison to the trial pieces.

Byers · June 12, 2020 2:14PM

Just to clarify things:

I spoke to Fred Weinberg after I purchased it, and it will be re-submitted to PCGS for a new tag. Fred is adding a second line.
It will say:
Aluminum- Uniface.

Mike Byers

Byers · June 12, 2020 2:17PM

The 1971 Cent that was certified by NGC AU 58 says Aluminum on the tag. It also was struck on an aluminum foreign planchet.

Mike Byers

CaptHenway · June 12, 2020 5:01PM

Might I suggest adding the weight as well?

RedCopper · June 13, 2020 4:27AM

Mint News Magazine is guilty of publishing FAKENEWS
I own a 1974 s Aluminum Cent
graded PR 67 by PCGS that came out of the mint in a 1974 Proof Set

Byers · June 13, 2020 6:30AM

PCGS and NGC do not provide population reports for mint error coins.

Once a valid PCGS serial number is provided and verified, Mint Error News Magazine will make the appropriate correction.

Mike Byers

Zoins · June 13, 2020 7:45AM

@RedCopper said:
I own a 1974 s Aluminum Cent
graded PR 67 by PCGS that came out of the mint in a 1974 Proof Set

That would be awesome to see!

Can you post it here? Is there a TrueView?

Would be awesome to see a PDS set!

ms70 · June 13, 2020 7:47AM

Cool. I wouldn't mind owning that.

CaptHenway · June 13, 2020 10:18AM

@RedCopper said:
Mint News Magazine is guilty of publishing FAKENEWS
I own a 1974 s Aluminum Cent
graded PR 67 by PCGS that came out of the mint in a 1974 Proof Set

Fred? Can you verify this?

Zoins · June 13, 2020 10:21AM

@RedCopper said:
I own a 1974 s Aluminum Cent
graded PR 67 by PCGS that came out of the mint in a 1974 Proof Set

@CaptHenway said:
Fred? Can you verify this?

Callling @FredWeinberg !

Aotearoa · June 13, 2020 10:45AM

@Byers said:
PCGS and NGC do not provide population reports for mint error coins.

Once a valid PCGS serial number is provided and verified, Mint Error News Magazine will make the appropriate correction.

Mike Byers

Just a friendly suggestion that you may wish to review the "PCGS Forum Rules and Guidelines" with regard to your signature line(s). Cheers.

FredWeinberg · June 13, 2020 10:46AM

I wish RC would post a photo of his coin in the PCGS holder – it’s possible it struck on a foreign aluminum
Planchet, and labeled as such.I don’t recall hearing of one discovered in a Proof set,but It’s possible – easiest way to clarify the last few posts would be to see a photo of the coin in the holder to see how it’s labeled so we know what we’re talking about

JBK · June 13, 2020 10:55AM

@RedCopper said:
Mint News Magazine is guilty of publishing FAKENEWS
I own a 1974 s Aluminum Cent
graded PR 67 by PCGS that came out of the mint in a 1974 Proof Set

It would fantastic to see evidence of such an error. If it does exist you have done a fantastic job of keeping it a secret.

Now, that is entirely your prerogative, but if is a secret how can anyone be blamed for not knowing it?

RedCopper · June 14, 2020 9:55AM

Fred - Yes the coin was struck on a
Nepal 2 paisa planchet. It is at least
99% the same size as a Lincoln Cent.
It is really cool .It is Also a cameo . In 1974 the US mint
Was producing coins for Nepal.
If it wasn’t struck on a foreign
Planchet it would be illegal to own.
That was why the 1974 D cent was confiscated. It was struck on stolen aluminum within the mint.

CaptHenway · June 14, 2020 1:02PM

@RedCopper said:
Fred - Yes the coin was struck on a
Nepal 2 paisa planchet. It is at least
99% the same size as a Lincoln Cent.
It is really cool .It is Also a cameo . In 1974 the US mint
Was producing coins for Nepal.
If it wasn’t struck on a foreign
Planchet it would be illegal to own.
That was why the 1974 D cent was confiscated. It was struck on stolen aluminum within the mint.

Agreed.

DCW · June 14, 2020 4:24PM

@RedCopper

Can't you post a photo?
(They're said to be worth a thousand words.)

RedCopper · June 14, 2020 6:40PM

Sorry but the coin is locked up
and I am away on vacation.
I plan to exhibit it with some of my other Lincoln Cents at the next large national coin Show. Perhaps FUN

ADG · June 16, 2020 8:40PM

@RedCopper said:
Sorry but the coin is locked up
and I am away on vacation.
I plan to exhibit it with some of my other Lincoln Cents at the next large national coin Show. Perhaps FUN

Quite the optimist. Good luck and take care.

Zoins · June 16, 2020 11:01PM

I wonder how many different planchets 1974 cents come on?

I don't have an aluminum cent yet, but I do have a 1974 clad cent

Zoins · June 17, 2020 12:37AM

Here's the photo of this coin from Coin Week:

https://coinweek.com/coins/error-coins/mike-byers-mint-error-news-unique-1974-s-aluminum-lincoln-cent-obverse-struck-on-philippine-1-sentimo-planchet/

JBK · June 17, 2020 9:02AM

Wasn't there a legit aluminum cent that was "legalized" and is also legal to own? The one the Congressman gave the janitor?

CaptHenway · June 17, 2020 9:47AM

@JBK said:
Wasn't there a legit aluminum cent that was "legalized" and is also legal to own? The one the Congressman gave the janitor?

I believe you are correct!

emeraldATV · June 17, 2020 11:27PM

Can anyone give the weight of the coin.
Thanks.

Zoins · June 18, 2020 2:41AM

@JBK said:
Wasn't there a legit aluminum cent that was "legalized" and is also legal to own? The one the Congressman gave the janitor?

The Toven specimen is a tricky one for me because it was given to him by mistake.

Using prior case law of the mistake of selling the moon dust bag and the export license mistake of the 1933 double eagle Farouk specimen, it seems like the government official mistake of giving the specimen to Toven would be a legit release.

At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised, if the Mint tried to take action if they tried to sell and profit from the coin given their stance on unjustified enrichment. I'd imagine passing it down to heirs or donating it would be fine, e.g. to the Smithsonian, ANS, ANA. It's just that enrichment / profit may trigger action, even if it's ultimately unsuccessful.

Byers · July 17, 2020 6:09PM

I was in Fred's office. We did some business and he was kind enough to write a submission form to add "Aluminum - Uniface Reverse" on the PCGS insert. I just picked up the coin at the PCGS show in Vegas. They put on a wonderful show.

BuffaloIronTail · July 17, 2020 6:46PM

Here's the Philly version.

Pete

Zoins · July 17, 2020 6:53PM

@Byers said:
I was in Fred's office. We did some business and he was kind enough to write a submission form to add "Aluminum - Uniface Reverse" on the PCGS insert. I just picked up the coin at the PCGS show in Vegas. They put on a wonderful show.

Good call! I'd love to visit Fred's office some time!

CaptHenway · July 17, 2020 7:01PM

Now we need a “W.”

messydesk · July 17, 2020 7:07PM

@CaptHenway said:
Plausible as an artificially struck "error," like so many other artificially struck San Francisco "errors" of that time period.

That's what I'm thinking. Somewhere, there's a 74-S indent (although dateless) that was struck through this planchet. The intent may have been for them to bond after being struck, but they didn't.

Goldbully · July 22, 2020 6:56AM

Cool read............

Mike Byers Mint Error News – Unique 1977 Lincoln Cent on Aluminum Planchet

This Unique 1977 Aluminum Cent is either an intentionally made Mint Error on a leftover
aluminum planchet from 1974-1975 or a pattern struck in aluminum

This unique 1977 Aluminum Cent, struck on an aluminum planchet with a weight of 1.04 grams, was discovered and certified by NGC.

There are several possibilities as to how this unique Lincoln Cent was produced. It could have been an intentionally made mint error. It could have been struck on a leftover aluminum blank from 1974-75 when the United States Mint in Philadelphia struck Aluminum Cents. Or it could be a unique and unrecorded pattern struck in aluminum. Regardless of the circumstances, this is a unique and enigmatic Lincoln Cent.

There are no authorized U.S. coins struck in aluminum for circulation. In 1977, Lincoln Cents were composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Since 1982, they have been composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.

Continues in article link.......

https://coinweek.com/coins/error-coins/mike-byers-mint-error-news-unique-1977-lincoln-cent-on-aluminum-planchet/

Zoins · July 22, 2020 7:00AM

@Goldbully said:
Cool read............
[...]
https://coinweek.com/coins/error-coins/mike-byers-mint-error-news-unique-1977-lincoln-cent-on-aluminum-planchet/

Great link and coin! Love the discovery!

Given the following, I would have some concern about owning this:

There are several possibilities as to how this unique Lincoln Cent was produced. It could have been an intentionally made mint error. It could have been struck on a leftover aluminum blank from 1974-75 when the United States Mint in Philadelphia struck Aluminum Cents. Or it could be a unique and unrecorded pattern struck in aluminum.

It may be safer to own since the weight doesn't match the 1974 and 1974-D cents which both weigh 0.93 grams. This weighs 1.04 grams.

This is from PCGS:

Paul Gilkes wrote:
PCGS's examination of the 1974-D aluminum cent during the authentication process determined it weighs 0.93 gram, the same weight as a 1974 aluminum cent certified by PCGS in 2005

One exception I would take with the article (and this is perhaps marketing), is that I personally don't feel it's greater than the 1974 issue as suggested (given the presented information) since the 1974 issue is an official, non-error, pattern issue.

As spectacular as the 1971 and 1974 aluminum cents are, they do not begin to compare to this unique 1977 aluminum cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint.

CaptHenway · July 22, 2020 7:15AM

Fascinating.

messydesk · July 22, 2020 8:07AM

Since we're talking about something that could be an "on-purpose" or "shenanigan" (i.e., intentional error), I need to ask if there is any sign of a Japanese 1 yen undertype.

Zoins · July 22, 2020 8:09AM

@CaptHenway said:
Now we need a “W.”

A "W" might be possible. The West Point Mint was striking circulation cents in the 1970s but didn't add their mint mark.

Byers · July 22, 2020 9:54AM

I was referring to the SF 1971 and 1974 in the previous paragraph.

I just clarified it by adding the S mint mark after 1971 and 1974.

The Amazing 1974-S Aluminum Cent!

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