1959-D Wheat Reverse Cent

GarryN · Expert Member

There is an interesting discussion about this coin which is for sale in a Heritage auction. One of the posters is Tom DeLorey from Harlan Berk's who goes by "Capt. Henway" Tom says he has examined this coin and the coin that surfaced in the mid 1970's.

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=774392

Has anyone here examined either coin?

Dick · Expert Member

Here is one for Chuck:
http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/controversial-1959-d/
IMHO, the second "9" is not the same as the first. There are at least three points that differ:
The height,
the tail,
the point in the loop.

GarryN · Expert Member

Yes, Tom DeLorey on the first page of the topic said that when he examined the coin in the 1970's with Ed Fleischmann, they thought the second 9 had been "skillfully altered." Then later tests by the Secret Service could not find any markings on the coin that indicated it was counterfeit or altered. Fred Weinberg has seen the Heritage coin and is adamant the coin is a fake. Tom is more reserved about it but still thinks the coin is fake based on his "gut feeling". Tom's gut feeling is probably worth more than many people's educated guesses.

Dick · Expert Member

The trerasury service may be good at what they do, but that don't make them perfect. Then to compound the felony", the Secret service has their hands in it. They the S.S. couldn't find the plot to kill JFK, and aftereward, couldn't say who "did the dirty deed".
IMHO, they should leave the coins verification, to those who are experts at what they do.

eagames · Expert Member

I read someplace that the TPGs refused to grade it, they did not agree with the SS.

A famous forger (the guy that made fake Mormon historical documents and more) had confessed that he made that coin and told how it was done.

Laughing

Robert · Senior Member

Coin World article (p. 92, May 24 edition) says the Secret Service has certified it as genuine twice. "It last sold for $48,300" in 2003.

And it says the auction is May 30-June 2 in Beverly Hills (Larry and Ira Goldberg, Auctioneers)

GarryN · Expert Member

The Secret Service declared the coin a genuine mule cent in 2002 based on optical and electron microscopic examinations and non destructive physical examination of the metal alloy. They could find none of the typical seams and tooling marks associated with common counterfeit coins. This is valuable information, because if the coin is counterfeit, the usual methods can be ruled out. Unfortunately, Dick, the US Secret Service has jurisdiction in these matters when they choose to assert it.

The TPGs did not conduct any such examination to my knowledge and are merely stating an opinion that the coin is not genuine. As are many experts as stated in the Coin Universe thread.

I dont want to dwell on your amazing comments on the JFK assassination, since you probably wrote that in haste without thinking.

Dick · Expert Member

Not having the "proof in hand", it is probably best to just les ti go away, quietly, and let John rest in peace. He was a good president. I wist i could say the same for all since, and expecially the one with his hands in everything!

coop · Expert Member

Here is an image for the site.

Dick · Expert Member

I vote: YES!
Coop, I was thinking of you last night. you have been very quiet for quite some time. What are you "up to, these days"? One must check on the "kids" now and then, especially when they are very quiet, lest they be into mischief. LOL

coop · Expert Member

Just rustling the bushes every now and then. Always something going on.

Dick · Expert Member

Yep!, and it usually involves those little round discs we use for educational toys.

coppercoins · Site Admin

My take is if this is genuine there would have to be hundreds, if not thousands of other pieces minted by the muled die pair. Where are all the rest?

Dick · Expert Member

My position exactly!
What is your thoughts on the points I mentioned? It just does not look right. Mostly, because it has niot been seen before, but the "numbers just don't add up".

Robert · Senior Member

I suppose it could be the case that one or several mint empolyees intentionally created this one coin, sort of like the Washington quarter/Sacajawea dollar mules that came out around the year 2000. There were several "unique" mules that suddenly appeared despite the keyed dies and other safeguards put in place to prevent such a thing. One of a kind items like this cent could be "legitimate" (i.e. not couterfeit).