1974 aluminum penny.
Is it a test coin or fake? Weighs 0.93 grams and is aluminum alloy. Does have remnants of the dvb. 




Comments
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Cool
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Where'd you pick it up?
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The design details are very mushy. Doesn't look authentic.
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I would say that it is a fake considering that the details of the coin look mushy and poorly defined.
Instagram: nomad_numismatics2 -
Welcome to the forum!

A fun & exciting find but...... fake.
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Obviously fake – probably from China
Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.6 -
Fake.
What do you mean by,"Does have remnants of the dvb?"
Numismatist Ordinaire
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces0 -
Nothing new to add.
Fake.0 -
Fake. Mushy strike. Most likely China.
mikebyers.com Dealer in Major Mint Errors, Die Trials & Patterns - Author of NLG Best World Coin Book World's Greatest Mint Errors - Publisher & Editor of minterrornews.com.0 -
CHINAAAAAAAAA!
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It's not aluminum, it's Chinesium.
Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions7 -
The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:



JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research4 -
I would say counterfeit, but I'd ask @CaptHenway or @FredWeinberg
ooops, didn't notice Fred already answered!
"May the silver waves that bear you heavenward be filled with love’s whisperings"
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown1 -
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
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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.
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I've seen those available in bulk on various Chinese type "Amazon" selling sites. Wish.com comes to mind as one of them.
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Ah ...duh! I shoulda guessed that!
Numismatist Ordinaire
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces0 -
Aluminum foiled!
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I agree with Fred.
Professional Numismatist, Retired. 55 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner of the PNG's 2026 Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.0 -
@airplanenut said:
The genuine coins are very well struck. Sorry the photo quality isn't great... these are old:



wow!! that's a stunner 🤩
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"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon1
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@BuffaloIronTail said:
@FredWeinberg said:
Obviously fake – probably from China
This is the real thing.
Pete
Looks like the one I posted
JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research2 -
I agree ... it has that mushy fake look.
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@Jimnight said:
I agree ... it has that mushy fake look.
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@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.
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@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.
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Thanks for all comments.
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@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.
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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.
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@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.
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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..

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@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.
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@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.
1 -
@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.
JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research1 -
@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.
Numismatist Ordinaire
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces1 -
@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.
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@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.
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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?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
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@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.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
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@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.
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whatever it is. high 5, columbo.
muzzman.. accept it. it's not real.
P.S... *THAN
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All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
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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)Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.0
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