My 74 - No Science Project

I though this was interesting on the Wikipedia site:

"One example was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, while another was alleged to have been found by a US Capitol Police Officer. A 1974-D specimen was found in January 2014. Since the United States Secret Service is tasked with the seizure of any specimens, the legality of the coins is in doubt."

Go to http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_cent to read more.

Thanks Agrippa - I suppose this would make for an interesting poll. I'm not sure where I stand on the issue. I really haven't pondered much about it, but I suppose that both sides have credible arguments. Prototypes this and prototypes that - proof of concepts that may or may not make production or release. Happens all the time. So if a prototype belonging to an organization is shelved and then 'goes missing', it's still the property of the organization. Unless there are statutes that limit effective controls, then the coin is the property of the mint - as are all the rest. Failing to enforce controls doesn't mean abdication of control - or does it? If someone fishes in your bass pond and you don't have them kicked off the first or second time, is the pond no longer yours? Can anyone fish there freely?

Seems like someone's payday got trumped - and probably rightfully so. And if this is upheld, lots of owners of rare prototypes might need to be silent and those that weren't, well, they might have to offer up the prototype if asked. I suppose folks might still want to buy black market coins, but with the potential for federal prosecution, it might shut the door pretty tightly going forward.

Would render many 1943 Copper LWC threads moot I suppose.