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 Replies: 20 / Views: 2,800 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Hello Coin Community! I am fairly new to Numismatics, but not new enough that I didn't spot this while going through a friend's collection he inherited from his grandfather. It weighs 1 gram, but keep in mind my scale is not accurate to tenths, hundredths, etc. It has a proof like finish, although the pics don't show it. (I tried believe me,I just can't spend all day taking pics so I hope they are good enough) Thank you all again for the abundant amount of reliable knowledge that you pass on and help to make this a fun and exciting venture. Best Regards, Kurt   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1359 Posts |
From the pictures, I cant tell if its real or fake. That being said 74 is the year of an aluminum cent. There is only 1 known graded by PCGS and many articles about it It weighed .93 grams. I hope its the real deal and I would suggest sending it to some experts and maybe even PCGS if the outcome is good from the experts. It was an experimental prototype at the mint so really not a lot known about how it would look besides the one graded. If its legit, its BIG MONEY!! Good luck Heres a good article. https://www.PCGS.com/top100/coin3Its very highly unlikely its real but its possible. I would get it checked out if it does weigh 1 gram Edited by Kloccwork419
02/22/2021 4:51 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5832 Posts |
Normal cent should weight 3.11 gram before 1982, first you would need a better scale to determine its weight.
It maybe a school project...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3471 Posts |
If its legit, I believe its illegal to own.
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Moderator
 United States
96214 Posts |
1974 aluminum cent From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminum_centQuote:
The 1974 aluminum cent was a one-cent coin proposed by the United States Mint in 1973. It was composed of an alloy of aluminum and trace metals, and intended to replace the predominantly copper-zinc cent due to the rising costs of coin production in the traditional bronze alloy. Of the 1,571,167 coins struck in anticipation of release, none were released into circulation. To encourage congressional support for the new alloy, the Mint distributed several examples to US Congressmen. When the proposed aluminum cent was rejected, the Mint recalled and destroyed those coins. However, despite the recall, a few aluminum cents were not returned to the Mint, and those coins may remain at-large. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Take your coin into your local coin shop and asked them to weigh it for you. I suspect you have a plated coin and you aren't being able to get a true weight.   to the CCF!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
And the bad news is, that it is illegal to own it if it is real.   CoopHome : 1974 Alum centsEdited by coop
02/22/2021 6:14 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
If aluminum, do not dismiss the possibility that is a fake, struck from fake dies made by the explosive impact method.
Reverse field looks suspect to my eye.
Would need professional investigation to prove, either way.
The detail does look rather flat in places, which suggests to me that the die hubbing pressure was too low, or that the die pressure was too low.
I have seen genuine die pressure trial strikes that have flat features. Normally with the genuine die pressure trial strikes, the coins get re melted by the Mint.
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Pillar of the Community
2145 Posts |
Now don't shoot the messenger, I'm just throwing this out there for consideration. Anybody that knows about castings and has a small aluminum foundry can make these - the reverse especially made me think this as a lot of the details are distorted. Shall be interesting to see the outcome of this ..............  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1359 Posts |
Theres an aluminum 77 on ebay right now. Theres many possibilities with this coin. First you need to get an accurate weight. I dont think its plated, it looks like aluminum. To me the reverse looks sketchy the most. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
From the pictures, it does not look like a casting to me; to my eye, the edges of all of the details are too sharp.
If is is a casting, look for evidence of an injection point casting sprue that has been filed and burnished off.
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New Member
43 Posts |
If it is plated and comes in about 1 gram, then what was plated? NOT plated, even if the weight is within .01. Or am O missing something?
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New Member
43 Posts |
I have to ask myself if someone would exert the time and effort to counterfeit this coin and simply throw it out there for a chuckle. With no gain. Create a working die? Forging it. Smelting the metal. CASTING! Just wondering. I am definitely no expert. The impossible has been known to happen. Maybe the person was friends with the Senator that pocketed it. Positivity when it comes to the unknown. How can it be completely ruled out? Too many questions but lots of speculation.
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New Member
43 Posts |
Best to keep it on the low down though. Someone may come and take it. Ask if you can compare it to the one in the Smithsonian. The only one known.
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Moderator
United States
54282 Posts |
It looks a lot like this fake I have in my archives.  The Chinese make these and sell them for a few bucks a piece. Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
If OP's coin was genuine I don't think it would have that much wear and chatter . After it escaped the mint a real 74 Aluminum would have been picked up by anyone , not just a collector and kept in a small box on top of their dresser in pretty much MS condition  |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 2,800 |
Posted 02/22/2021 4:43 pm
