1977 Aluminum Lincoln Cent Struck at Philadelphia Mint 1.04g NGC MS 60 UNIQUE

Description

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Mike Byers is a World Renowned Expert on U.S. & World Major Mint Errors and an Award Winning Author
He literally "wrote the book"
World's Greatest Mint Errors
, which received the Numismatic Literary Guild's award for Best World Book. He is the publisher & editor of Mint Error News Magazine & Website which is widely regarded as the most informative and comprehensive resource for Major Mint Errors. He was an ANACS consultant for Major Mint Errors and has written articles for the Coin Dealer Newsletter. Mike Byers and his discoveries have been featured on the front page of Coin World numerous times. Mike Byers Inc carries a multi-million dollar world class inventory of major mint errors, die trials and numismatic rarities. His extensive personal collection of major mint errors is being authenticated and certified by NGC and designated on the insert as THE BYERS COLLECTION.
1977 Lincoln Cent
Struck on an Aluminum Planchet
At The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia
1.04 Grams
NGC MS 60
UNIQUE
This Unique 1977 Aluminum Cent is either:
• An Intentionally Made Mint Error
• On a Leftover Aluminum Planchet From 1974-1975
• A Pattern Struck in Aluminum
This unique 1977 Aluminum Cent was discovered and certified by NGC. It was struck on an aluminum planchet with a weight of 1.04 grams. There are several possibilities as to how this unique Lincoln Cent was produced. It could have been an intentionally made mint error. It could have been struck on a leftover aluminum blank from 1974-75 when the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia struck Aluminum Cents. Or it could be a unique and unrecorded pattern struck in aluminum. Regardless of the circumstances, this is a unique and enigmatic Lincoln Cent.
There are no authorized U.S. coins that were struck in aluminum for circulation. In 1977, Lincoln Cents were composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Since 1982, they are composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
The 1974 Aluminum Cent is world famous. Proposed in 1973 and struck in 1974, it was never released into circulation. The U.S. Mint distributed several to members of Congress, but they were recalled by the U.S. Mint Director, Mary Brooks, and destroyed. One example struck by the
Philadelphia Mint
was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. Another was certified in 2005 by PCGS as MS 62. In 1975, the Philadelphia Mint struck at least 66 aluminum cents dated 1975.
According to the Chief of the Mint's internal audit staff, Willian Humbert, between October 17, 1973 and March 29, 1974 there were 1,441,039 aluminum cents dated 1974 struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Another 130,128 were struck between April 12, 1974 and May 30, 1974. Fred Weinberg, PCGS authenticator for Mint Errors, estimates that the number ranges from (5) to as many as (14) 1974-P aluminum cents that are not accounted for. The U.S. Government closed it's investigation of any missing 1974 aluminum cents in February 1976.
In 2014, a 1974
Denver Mint
aluminum cent surfaced from Randall Lawrence, who stated that his father had worked at the U.S. Mint in Denver and had received it as a retirement gift. It was certified MS 63 by PCGS and was subsequently surrendered to the U.S. Government since it was not authorized for release.
Other than the officially struck 1974 and 1975 Aluminum Cents, this 1977 Aluminum Cent is the only other one known. There are two other aluminum Lincoln Cents known but they are struck on
foreign planchets
. The first is a 1971 San Francisco Mint aluminum cent that was struck on a planchet intended for Nepal or the Philippines and was certified by NGC as AU 58. It sold in the March 2005 Heritage Signature Sale #368 for ,050 (lot #7604). On February 5, 2016 the new owner rejected an offer of ,000 on the Heritage auction website. The second is a spectacular and unique 1974 San Francisco Mint aluminum cent that was only struck by the obverse die (uniface). The planchet was intended for a Philippine 1 Sentimo, which were struck by the San Francisco Mint in 1974. It was authenticated and certified by PCGS as MS 61. It is currently being offered for ,000.
As spectacular as the 1971-S and 1974-S aluminum cents are, they do not begin to compare to this unique 1977 aluminum cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint. NGC was unable to identify this Aluminum Lincoln Cent as being struck on a foreign planchet, since it was not a match to a specific weight or size. Mint Error News Magazine was also unable to match it to any planchet from their comprehensive report of coins struck by the U.S. Mint for foreign countries. Experts have concluded that it is either an intentional mint error, struck on a leftover aluminum planchet from 1974-75 or an unrecorded aluminum pattern.
It is plausible that this unique 1977 Aluminum Cent was an intentionally struck mint error. One example of intentionally produced mint errors occurred at the San Francisco Mint during the 1970's. Mint employees intentionally created spectacular proof and mint state error coins. These errors were auctioned off by the State of California after they were discovered in a bank safe deposit box. The U.S. Secret Service inspected and released the collection, determining that it was legal to own. The State of California then auctioned off the collection and it has been dispersed since the sale.
In the collection were incredible proof errors that were double denominations, mated pairs, dramatic and spectacular unique mint errors including the famous 1970-S Quarter struck on a Barber Quarter certified by NGC as PR 65. Also in this collection was the now world famous 1970-S Quarter struck on a 1941 Canadian Quarter which went viral worldwide on the internet, TV, print and in magazines. In addition, there were several unique and exotic mint state errors in the collection that were unknown types of errors including a unique mint state Roosevelt Dime struck with two reverse dies, which was subsequently certified by PCGS. Striking a 1977 Aluminum Cent at the Philadelphia Mint was not out of the realm of possibilities given the fact that unique mint errors were being intentionally struck in the San Francisco Mint and had assistance leaving the Mint as well.
Aluminum Cents were first struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1974 and listed as Judd #2151. They were also struck in 1975 and are listed as Judd #2155. These were trial pieces struck from regular dies and referred to as patterns. It is conceivable that an aluminum planchet, leftover from 1974 or 1975, was inadvertently or intentionally retrieved to strike this 1977 Lincoln Cent. There are many documented examples of United States coins which have been authenticated and certified by PCGS and NGC that were struck on planchets from previous years. One example of a Lincoln Cent on a leftover planchet from years before is a 1989-D Lincoln Cent struck on a 3.1 gram full copper planchet intended for production prior to 1983 that was authenticated and certified by PCGS as MS 64 Brown.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the intentional or non-intentional striking of this unique 1977 aluminum cent, it carries the mystique and excitement that surrounds the world famous 1974 aluminum cents. Certified by NGC as MS 60, this 1977 Aluminum Lincoln Cent belongs in a world class collection of Lincoln Cents or in a collection of unique rarities, discovery coins, patterns and mint errors.
Featured on the cover of
Mint Error News Magazine Issue 56:
Wrong Planchet and Off-Metal Errors
are featured in Chapter 29 of my
NLG award winning book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors
:
Buying and Selling Rare Coins
Certified by PCGS & NGC
Rare U.S. Gold Coins
U.S. Patterns & Die Trials
U.S. & World Major Mint Errors
MIKE BYERS
Dealing in Rare Coins & Fine Art for 40 Years
Mike Byers has been a professional numismatist for forty years. He is one of the largest dealers handling U.S. Gold Coins, Patterns and Rarities certified by PCGS and NGC. He has handled major coin collections and attends every major coin convention. Mike Byers carries an extensive inventory as well as solicits want lists and is always looking to purchase fresh inventory and collections.
Mike Byers was a consultant to ANACS for Mint Errors from 2000 to 2006. He is also the Publisher and Editor for
Mint Error News Magazine
and the
Mint Error News Website
that was founded in 2003. In 2009, Mike Byers published his first book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors
, which received the NLG Award for Best World Coin Book. In 2016, Mike Byers was featured on Fox News in an interview with one of his unique mint errors.
Mike Byers is a life member of ANA since 1985, a charter member of NGC and a featured dealer/member of PCGS. He is also a life member of the Central States Numismatic Society and the Florida United Numismatists. He is member A71 in the Certified Coin Exchange (CCE) and a member of CDN Exchange (BYRS).
Mike Byers was born in the coin business attending coin shows since he was six years old. When he was seventeen, he issued his first coin catalog. He has been a Market-Maker in U.S. Gold Coins and a dealer in major mint errors. In 1987 he offered limited partnerships and rare coin funds. He has written articles for The Coin Dealer Newsletter and has been featured on the front page of Coin World numerous times with his numismatic rarities. Mike Byers is a contributing author on mint errors for CoinLink & CoinWeek. He also assisted with the mint error section of Coin Facts on the PCGS website. You can visit Mike Byers and view his rarities at the ANA, Central States, FUN show and the Long Beach Coin Expo.
Mike Byers also deals in fine art including Leroy Neiman original oils as well as works by other renowned artists. He buys and sells oil and acrylics on canvas and board, bronzes, watercolors and mixed media artwork.
2016: Fox News Interview
In 2016, Mike Byers was interviewed in a Fox News segment showcasing his unique 1970-S Proof Quarter that was struck on a 1941 Canadian Quarter.
2009: World's Greatest Mint Errors
In 2009, Mike Byers published his first book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors
. This book combines stunning imagery with the most accurate information available to provide anyone interested in mint errors with the latest information on mint error coins from the United States and around the world. Hundreds of spectacular mint errors are pictured. Each error coin photo is presented in full color, and enlarged to enhance the smallest details. Some of the error coins featured in this book have never been seen by the public before, and each is described in great detail as to the type of error, the assigned grade, rarity and estimated value.
NLG Award for Best World Coin Book
in 2009 for
World's Greatest Mint Errors
2009: The Coin Dealer Newsletter
Mike Byers was the featured author in the October 9, 2009 issue of The Coin Dealer Newsletter (Vol. XXXIV No. 10) with a front-page article on mint errors.
2003: Publisher and Editor of Mint Error News
Magazine & Website
In 2003, the
Mint Error News
website was launched, which was originally sponsored by Mike Byers and ANACS. Due to the popularity of mint errors and the magazine it is now sponsored by Mike Byers and several other mint error dealers. It is a website devoted to bringing the latest mint error news and information to the collector. There are now hundreds of articles with features, discoveries, news stories, and mint error related info from the United States and around the World. This website became so popular that a print version, Mint Error News Magazine, was created and is read by thousands of readers.
THE BYERS COLLECTION
NGC began certifying a few major mint errors from Mike Byers' personal collection. These spectacular and rare coins each have "BYERS COLLECTION" designated on the NGC insert.
1874 G Mirror
Brockage on Obverse
NGC MS 62
1904 Double Struck
Rotated 180 Degrees in Collar
NGC MS 62 CAC
0,000
(1928) 25¢ Struck on a
1¢ Planchet 3.02 Grams
NGC MS 63 BN
Featured on the Front Page of Coin World
Mike Byers' discoveries have been
featured on the front page of Coin World.
1999: Mike Byers Inc. Website Launched
Mike Byers Inc is one of the largest Numismatic corporations dealing in U.S. Gold Coins, Patterns and Rarities certified by PCGS and NGC. The Mike Byers Inc website was launched in 1999 and today it is considered the most widely viewed and informative numismatic websites specializing in PCGS or NGC certified Pre-1840 Gold Coins, Patterns or Early Type Mint Errors (Pre-1950).
Coin World December 1, 2003 Page 53 Full Page Ad
1990-1999: Dealer in World Coins
Since 1990, Mike Byers has traveled extensively in Europe purchasing the finest quality World Coins. We specialize in Swiss, German and English rarities in the finest quality obtainable. Here's an example of a full page ad in the European Coin Magazine,
Munzen Revue
. We buy many high quality World rarities.
1987-1988: Limited Partnerships / Rare Coin Funds
In 1987, Mike Byers Inc was one of the FIRST major U.S. dealers to offer SEC approved Limited Partnerships / Rare Coin Funds. We purchased major rarities including proof gold, early type gold, and gem mint state gold. Our ads soliciting investors appeared in the
Wall Street Journal
,
Coin World
, and other publications. Later on, many coin dealers followed our lead and offered Limited Partnerships as well.
1978-1999: Market-Maker in U.S. Gold Coins
Mike Byers and Mike Byers Inc have purchased millions of dollars of rare United States gold coins and collections. For over 35 years we have been Market-Makers in U.S. gold coins. Here is an example of one of our many full page ads in the Certified Coin Dealer Newsletter, which we placed over the years. We buy and sell proof gold, mint state gold, gold commems and early gold.
1975: Major Mint Error Catalog
From 1974 - 1978 I mailed out over 25 price lists of major mint errors. My all time favorite was my first catalog which was photographed, printed and distributed in 1975 by John Devine (Lonesome John) from Newbury Park, CA. It was a 26 page catalog containing the finest major mint errors with photographs, descriptions and prices.
This Gold Indian Head Cent was
recently certified by PCGS as MS 65.
TERMS OF SALE
When Purchasing Items
From Mike Byers Inc:
All coins are kept in a bank vault. Please allow two business days for order processing.
Prices are subject to change without notice and all items are subject to prior sale.
All coins are guaranteed genuine and are delivered registered, insured, and prepaid.
We accept credit cards and PayPal. There is a 5% fee for any returned items that were paid using PayPal.
Seven day return privilege upon receipt. Coins must be returned in original holders.
Sales tax will be collected unless a proper resale certificate is provided at the time of purchase.