Rare Glass Penny Being Auctioned in Fort Lauderdale

NBC Miami ^ | Jan 4, 2017

[nickcarraway]

An experimental penny made of glass during World War II is about to be auctioned.

Owner Roger Burdette says the coin is the only known unbroken glass penny in existence.

During the war, copper was needed for ammunition. The U.S. Mint authorized tests that included making uncirculated pennies from other metals, plastic and rubber. The Blue Ridge Glass Co. in Tennessee made experimental pennies using tempered glass.

Burdette says the impressions on the coins weren't precise, the weight and size weren't uniform and the coins developed sharp edges that cut fingers. He says they were likely destroyed. He says only one other glass penny exists, and it is broken.

The Mint made 1943 pennies from low-grade steel covered in zinc.

Heritage Auctions in Fort Lauderdale is conducting Thursday's bidding.

[Ray76]

That’s an interesting bit of history.

Here’s the auctioneer’s site

https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/historic-experimental-copper-cent-alternative-the-only-intact-glass-u.s.-penny-known-surfaces-in-florida-auction.s?releaseId=3091

[Ray76]

You can see the obverse and reverse simultaneously

[gundog]

Heard it went for $70K

[Fresh Wind]

A glass penny should have Obama on it in commemoration of the most transparent and most worthless administration ever.

[FreeperCell]

Did they break easy?

[Daffynition]

It brought PRETTY PENNY.

Heritage Auctions announced Friday that the penny was sold for $70K, during Thursday’s auction based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to an American buyer who wishes to remain anonymous.

Exceeded its estimate:

**A semi-transparent penny is expected to fetch between $30,000 to $50,0000 at auction.**

No word on how it was *discovered*.

[iowamark]

1943 steel pennies:

[GraceG]

I am surprised as hell that China or the Norks aren’t making counterfeit quarters and dollar coins to screw with our economy....

[kitchen]

A bundle of hundred dollar bills cost far less to produce or transport.

[W.]

Looks like a cough drop...uh-oh!

[DannyTN]

I bet it cost a pretty penny!!!

[Vendome]

The U.S. Treasury should coin Obama's image.

 

It would be a stimulus coin and quite possibly the best investment anyone could make becuase as every collector knows coins with a mistake on them are more valuable.

 

AC

The U.S. Treasury should coin Obama's image.

 

It would be a stimulus coin and quite possibly the best investment anyone could make becuase as every collector knows coins with a mistake on them are more valuable.

 

AC

[cynwoody]

[Heart-Rest]

Speaking of glass coins, if you flip one of these babies heads-or-tails (for a football game or something like that), make sure it lands on something soft, like a pillow (rather than a rock, or a sidewalk, or something hard like that).

[roadcat]

Wrong image for Obama’s coin. Should be two asses, one on each side. Because he is a double dumb-ass. Copper brown, of course, not to represent his race but the crap he spews.

[Windflier]

I’m sure a lot of us are old enough to remember when steel pennies were common pocket change. I haven’t seen one in decades, now.

[latina4dubya]

A glass penny should have Obama on it in commemoration of the most transparent and most worthless administration ever.

ha! clever! :)

[hawg-farmer - FR..October 1998]

It would cost more than the coin is worth,

[Eagles6]

They’re making Morgan and Peace silver dollars.