1974 aluminum cent: Difference between revisions

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==Lawrence Specimen==
In January 2014, [[San Diego]] resident Randy Lawrence discovered the only specimen of thea 1974-D aluminum cent currently known to exist. The coin had been in the possession of his father, Harry Edmond Lawrence, a former deputy superintendent of the [[Denver Mint]], who kept it in a [[Zipper storage bag|sandwich bag]] along with other coins. Lawrence brought the coin to [[La Jolla]] coin dealer Michael McConnell, who estimated its value at a minimum of [[United States dollar|US$]]250,000, up to $2 million or possibly more. On January 28, 2014, PCGS announced that it had certified the coin as authentic with the grade PCGS MS63 and certification number 28544237.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcgs.com/news/pcgs-certifies-first-confirmed-1974d-aluminum-cent|title=PCGS Certifies First Confirmed 1974-D Aluminum Lincoln Cent!|last=|first=|date=January 28, 2014|website=PCGS|publisher=PCGS|access-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref> Lawrence and McConnell planned to auction the coin in April 2014 after it toured the United States and split the proceeds; Lawrence planned to donate as much as $100,000 of his share to homeless programs.<ref name="KFMB">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/24595421/rare-coin-fetches-local-man-a-pretty-penny|title=Rare coin fetches local man a pretty penny|accessdate=February 6, 2014|author=Price, Steve|publisher=[[KFMB-TV]]|date=January 30, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207043524/http://www.cbs8.com/story/24595421/rare-coin-fetches-local-man-a-pretty-penny|archivedate=February 7, 2014 }}</ref> However, the coin had to be withdrawn from the auction pending the outcome of a request by the [[United States Mint]] to return the coin.<ref>Dana Littlefield, [https://archive.is/20140805041134/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Apr/08/penny-aluminum-government-auction-rare-coin/ "Government wants its rare penny back"], ''San Diego Union-Tribune'', April 8, 2014</ref>
The case proceeded after Judge William Q. Hayes denied the government's [[Motion (legal)#To dismiss|motion to dismiss]] on March 26, 2015, stating: “it is plausible that a Mint official, with proper authority and in an authorized manner, allowed Harry Lawrence to keep the 1974-D aluminum cent. Drawing reasonable inferences, it is plausible that Harry Lawrence lawfully obtained possession of the aluminum cent, giving Plaintiffs superior claim of title to the aluminum cent.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%2020150330924/Lawrence%20v.%20United%20States%20Department%20of%20the%20Treasury|title=LAWRENCE v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY - Case No. 14cv594-WQH-NLS.|last=Hayes|first=William Q.|date=March 26, 2015|website=Leagle, Inc.|publisher=United States District Court, S.D. California|access-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref> On March 17, 2016, Lawrence and McConnell surrendered the penny to the U.S. Mint to settle the terms of their lawsuit which was dropped. The Mint has reported their intention to display the penny as a part of U.S. Mint history. A 1974-D is stored at the [[United States Bullion Depository]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FOIA Request #2017-09-205 |url=https://www.governmentattic.org/30docs/VisitBullionDepositFtKnox_2017.pdf |website=governmentattic.org| publisher=US Mint |accessdate=17 December 2018 |date=6 April 2018}}</ref>