I know that this is not an error coin, I figure that someone stamped this 1964 Penny with "Live to Kill". Just wondering if anyone else has ever seen this stamp before?
Actually I have seen one of these before at a coin swap put on by a local Houston, TX coin club back in the late 80's. I will tell you the story I was told when I asked about it, but let me preface it by saying I think the story is complete bologna....an urban legend.
OK the story goes that back in 1974 or 75 there was a serial killer working the streets of Houston's Montrose area. The story is that after killing his victims he would dump the bodies and place these "Live to Kill" pennies on their eyes. There were always one on each eye and the years were supposed to mean something but the police never told the public what exactly the meaning was. He was never caught and these coins were supposed to be either from a victim or from his personal stash he never used.
After I was told this, I spent many months at the library (before the internet) trying to square the story with newspapers archives. I found NOTHING. So I have always believed that the old guy was just pulling my leg. But there you have it. Yours makes only the second I have seen, but in all honesty they wouldn't be all that hard to make. I would be interested in where you found it.
Like EBM says, counterstamps are not difficult to make. Interesting story, but if they had been used in a murder, they would be in an evidence vault - not at a bid board auction. I say hogwash too.
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