Whatever happened to the (in)famous 1959 Wheat cent?

[James_OldeTowne]

I was wondering about it just the other day. Whatever happened to the coin? Has it been confiscated?

[WoodenJefferson]

I may have added to or started a post about this coin here, I'll have to look.

 

Mean while: Coinfacts

 

 

The 1959-D Wheat Ears Reverse Cent is one of the most controversial coins to appear on the market in decades. Many experts who have examined the coin are at a loss to explain its existence. Several experts have stated that they believe the coin to be counterfeit, although they are unable to give specific reasons why. On the other hand, the Secret Service has given the coin their stamp of authenticity - on at least two occasions! The coin was scheduled to be sold in Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. "The Pre-Long Beach Auction", September 23-24, 2002 (see description below), but the coin was pulled from the auction at the eleventh hour when convicted forger Mark Hofmann claimed to have made the coin. Subsequent investigation failed to confirm this claim and the coin was re-consigned to the Goldberg's "The Benson Collection Part III", February 24-25, 2003, Lot 159. As of February 23, 2003, no major grading service had chosen to certify the coin as genuine.

 

Sources and/or recommended reading:

"1959-D cent mule gets OK for sale" by Paul Gilkes, COIN WORLD, December 23, 2002, page 3

 

Link

WOW...ay Back in 2006 !!!!

[ant]

[Conder101]

I believe it sold in the Benson collection sale and went into a private collection and has not come back out since. And of course out of sight out of mind, so it hasn't been talked about much since then.

[BillJones]

If the actual coin looks the same as what I see in this photo link, the piece looks very grainy to me. In that case I would question its authenticity because given what had to be an extremely low mintage, the dies should have produced sharp, clear coins with something other than granular surfaces. I don’t care what the Secret Service says, I don’t like the looks of the coin.