Aluminum penny returned to U.S. Mint

A 1974-D aluminum penny, said to be worth $2 million, will be returned to the U.S. Mint. San Diegan Randall Lawrence, son of the late Mint official Harry Lawrence, said he inherited the coin from his father. Randall Lawrence and Michael McConnell, owner of the La Jolla Coin Shop, displayed the coin at coin shows and in media interviews, and planned to offer it for sale.

The United States Mint demanded the coin's return. Lawrence and McConnell sued the U.S. government in San Diego federal court, seeking a declaration that they owned the piece. The government argued that it owned the piece because there was never an authorization for such a coin, the piece was struck secretly, and unlawfully removed from the Denver Mint.

The U.S. attorney's office announced yesterday (March 17) that the coin will be returned to the Mint, as Lawrence and McConnell have relinquished all ownership claims and ended the litigation.