A lucky penny, that turned out to be so rare it was actually
worth millions, is now worthless.
Randall Lawrence, who had owned a rare coin for 35 years, was
forced to return the valuable coin to the U.S. government.
It all started back in 2013, when Lawrence, who had recently
moved to San Diego, went to the La Jolla Coin Shop with a baggie filled with
coins that was given to him when his father died.
In that collection of coins was an aluminum 1974 penny. The
penny was certified, authenticated and expected to sell at auction for
millions.
But before Lawrence could sell the penny, the U.S. government
stepped in.
They reached out to Lawrence in a stern letter asking for the
coin back. According to the Department of Treasury that coin is government
property.
Lawrence's father Harry worked at the Denver U.S. Mint for
twenty years. He believes that back in 1974 one of his father's co-workers may
have made the coin as a joke. Whatever the origin of the coin, the secrets died
with Lawrence's father.
So the penny will not be sold at auction. Lawrence is giving the
penny back to the government to be put on display for the public.
Source: Coin World
Image: Independent Coin Graders
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