How to Find a 1974-D Aluminum Cent

The 1974-D aluminum cent is the only Denver-struck example known of the Mint’s experimental aluminum Lincoln cent—a coin that, unlike its Philadelphia counterparts, is no longer in private hands at all. Following a legal dispute, it was returned to the U.S. Mint in 2016 and is now held in a Mint vault.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place and create a wishlist alert. Given that the sole known example is now government-held, that alert exists mainly to flag any claimed listing for serious scrutiny.

What makes the 1974-D aluminum cent historically significant?

Facing rising copper costs, the Mint tested an aluminum composition for the Lincoln cent in 1974, striking experimental pieces primarily at Philadelphia but also a small number at Denver, for internal evaluation and limited outside distribution to gauge reaction from vending-machine operators and lawmakers. The experiment was abandoned, and the Mint intended to recover and destroy every example.

The Denver specimen’s known history traces back to Harry Edmond Lawrence, who was serving as Deputy Superintendent of the Denver Mint at the time the coin was struck. After his death in 1980, his son Randy inherited the coin along with other pieces from his father’s collection, apparently unaware for years of its significance. When the coin surfaced publicly and was authenticated by PCGS as the only known 1974-D aluminum cent, it triggered a legal dispute with the Mint over ownership, which concluded in 2016 with the coin’s return to the government. It remains stored in a Mint vault, with plans reported for eventual public display once gallery space at the Denver Mint is available.

How to evaluate a claimed 1974-D aluminum cent

Understand there is currently no legitimately private example

Because the sole known Denver specimen was returned to the U.S. Mint in 2016, there is no genuine 1974-D aluminum cent currently available in private hands to buy or sell. Any coin offered as a “1974-D aluminum cent” should be treated as almost certainly not genuine, or as a claim about a different, previously unknown specimen that would require extraordinary verification.

Distinguish it from the Philadelphia coin

The Philadelphia-struck 1974 aluminum cent has a different, separately documented history (a Smithsonian example and one privately held by the Toven family). Don’t conflate claims about one with the other—confirm which mint mark (or lack of one) is actually being discussed.

Treat any offer with serious skepticism

Given that the only confirmed Denver example is institutionally held, and that the coin’s entire known population and history is a matter of public record, a “new” 1974-D aluminum cent offered for sale should prompt independent authentication by a major grading service and, given the Mint’s demonstrated willingness to pursue ownership of this exact coin, independent legal advice as well.

Suggested search terms and filters

A search for “1974-D aluminum cent” in ordinary dealer inventory should be expected to return no legitimate results—the only known example is held by the U.S. Mint, not available in the collector market.

Availability and pricing notes

There is no active market for this coin. Its sole known example is government-held, with no current path to private ownership.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin to confirm nothing questionable is currently listed.
2. Add it to your wishlist if you want to be notified of any claimed listing, purely for evaluation purposes.
3. Treat any match as highly suspect. Given that the only known example is held by the U.S. Mint, verify any claim extremely carefully before considering it credible.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1974-D aluminum cents exist?

Only one is known to exist, and it is currently held by the U.S. Mint after being returned in 2016.

Can I buy a 1974-D aluminum cent?

Not legitimately. The only known example is government property, held in a Mint vault, and not available for private sale.

Who owned it before it was returned to the Mint?

It traced back to Harry Edmond Lawrence, a former Deputy Superintendent of the Denver Mint, and was later inherited by his son Randy Lawrence before the coin’s significance came to light and a legal dispute over its ownership followed.

Is this the same coin as the Philadelphia 1974 aluminum cent?

No. The Philadelphia-struck examples (one in the Smithsonian, one held by the Toven family) are separate coins with a separate history. This entry covers the single Denver-struck specimen only.

What if someone offers to sell me a 1974-D aluminum cent?

Treat the offer as highly suspect. Since the only confirmed example is held by the U.S. Mint, verify any such claim with extreme care and independent expert authentication before proceeding.

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