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 Replies: 14 / Views: 61,482 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5202 Posts |
Looks copper colored to me.
You would have to weigh it to be sure if you think it looks aluminum colored.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Looks copper to me ...
1974 cent should weigh 3.1 grams.
What makes you think it might be aluminum?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3463 Posts |
 to the forum! Quote:1974 Aluminum Cent When a government mints coins, it likes to make a profit. This profit is called Seigniorage, the difference between the cost to mint a coin and the coins monetary value. In 1973, the mint decided to use a new Aluminum alloy for the 1974 cents. This would save the mint money from the more expensive Copper it had been using. 1,571,167 - 1974 dated Aluminum alloy cents were struck. None of these coins were ever released into circulation. Some of these new Aluminum cents were given to US congressmen, but when the new alloy was rejected, the coins were recalled. The mint destroyed all examples of the 1974 Aluminum cents, but a couple of examples that were not returned to the mint are known to exist. One is in the Smithsonian Institution. Another example turned up in 2014 dated 1974-D. There is a legal battle over who owns the coin, since they were all recalled for destruction. http://www.lincolncentsonline.com/r...rieties.html The chances of finding one in circulation are likely zero to none. The coin pictured clearly looks like a Copper cent. An Aluminum cent would be very light, like plastic and be a silver color. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
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Valued Member
Canada
458 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
to CCF. Looks copper color to me also. Weight is the best way to tell for sure but I am 99% sure it is copper. John1  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I can tell It's copper without even weighing it by it's underlying copper color . BTW To CCF . |
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
Thanks guys! nothing in particular to make me assume that it's aluminum. new interest in coin collecting.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Aluminum would be silvergray in color and the weight would be about .93 grams, less than 1/3 the weight of a copper cent and less than half the weight of a copper plated zinc cent.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
The few Aluminum cents that made it out of the mints would be very lightweight, and more the color tone of dimes and quarters than that of a penny. They also were never technically released so still considered government property. There was a guy who found one in his fathers desk and had it authenticated and when he went to sell it the US government stepped in and voided the sale and took the penny back saying it must have been stolen. (40 or so years earlier)
So if you do find one... shhhh. :)
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community, jamielle4! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Sorry 'bout that! to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
jamielle! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
You could always hit it with a torch. If it melts easily, it WAS Aluminum. However, this could depend on the Torch. If hot enough, could melt the Copper so back to unknown. Just kidding. Don't melt coins. I need them. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 61,482 |
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Posted 11/16/2016 10:56 pm
