PCGS Certifies First Confirmed 1974-D Aluminum Lincoln Cent

If the story that goes with the Toven Specimen (see the link Bobby gave above) is considered reliable, congressmen were given examples of the coins (presumably for them to examine and discuss) with little or no controls over what the congressmen subsequently did with them.

I would think that his dad being an employee of the Denver mint when he took it that the government would have an easy time laying claim to it.

So the Gov. can circulate counterfeit coins, and then put you in jail if you do not return it? Sounds like entrapment to me! I thought that possession was 9/10 of the law, I get coins sent to me in the mail, I keep all of them.

"So the Gov. can circulate counterfeit coins, and then put you in jail if you do not return it? Sounds like entrapment to me! I thought that possession was 9/10 of the law,"
1. circulate what counterfeit coins?
2. If you mean the aluminum cents, no, they can't put you in jail. They can demand their property back though.
3. Entrapment of what? no one is in any trouble for having them.
4. No, if I take your newspaper or lawn mower does that make it mine because I possess it?

I am thinking of the 1958 doubled die that supposedly never reached circulation. I have seen some people willing to go to the 60,000-100,000 range to own one of those. I am sure if the sales stay out of the press, no one is the wiser. Its all about publicity; if the topic at hand seems to point to the US government in a negative way, and it strikes a nerve, and the government knee-jerks and sends the agents in to retrieve the coin with a warrant in hand, so be it. If the owner is a businessman, it can be claimed as a loss. I am not so sure that can be said for an individual. Simply keep a copy of the warrant or official paperwork for tax purposes.

I am sure some of these coins were made for circulation. The Mint wanted to see the longevity of certain metal compositions, and the associated costs to do each type of metal. I am sure the aluminum coin and zinc was tried again. I think the 1943 composition of zinc was a far better example of what is out there in circulation with all these newer cents (1983 and forward).

Why cant the mint allow some test coins to hit the streets and simply stamp the back with some sort of reward - like a current year mint set - for turning in the coin after the date designated on the back of the test coin. It could be subtle. Heck if people are still pulling older copper DDO's out of circulated rolls, a typical test coin may be at the mercy of collectors in order to be turned in. They can put a clause on these coins, that if they are sold for more than face value, they are subject to confiscation. That should keep the value down. Simply put a notice on the US Mint site, saying...for example; be on the lookout for the aluminum test nickel that was released into circulation in May of 2012....Gives plenty of time in circulation to find out if the product is will last.

As for siezure; I think the mule coins, like an the wrong planchet struck by a larger demonination (quarter hammered by an Ike die) or anything extremely weird would be an OPPPS, vice a test coin, and those would show more of an embarassment to the mint. I dunno, Its all heresay until the person gets a summons/warrant from the US Treasury.

I'll start it of with 1 dollar!

I think there was a personal testimonial from an ex Denver Mint employee in either CoinWorld or Numismatic News a while back that discussed their creation and possible survival.

This coin is completely different than the 1933 $20, and according to THIS article, it is legal to own.