Toven Specimen
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The Toven Specimen is a privately held aluminum 1974 Lincoln cent pattern, one of the 1974 aluminum cents. Of the more than 1 million of these minted, it is one of only two known to survive. The other example is held by the Smithsonian Institution. It is alleged that Chief Mint Engraver Frank Gasparro also had one, although its ultimate fate is unknown. Several others may have been kept by members of Congress.
In the past, the U.S. Mint officials have declared that as they never released any of these patterns, any held by private collectors are stolen property, and subject to seizure by the Secret Service. However, since the Toven Specimen was certified to be authentic in 2005, it is apparently still in the hands of the Toven Family. They claim to have acquired it from a family member who served as a police officer in the U.S. Capitol. The story is that the mint gave a small number of specimens to Representatives and Senators for evaluation. A congressional aide dropped one of the coins, and the officer picked it up to return it. The staffer told him to keep it, which he did.
There is some speculation that the mint could possibly negotiate a deal with the Toven family similar to that which was brokered over the 1933 Double Eagle.
