Expert: Ronald Fern - 2/9/2011

Question
I found a penny quite a few years ago and until recently finding, forgot about it. Its a 1975 Lincoln penny, but there is a stamp om his shoulder of what looks like to be the Russian crest from when Stalin was in.  The crest has a curved sword at the top and a upside down half moon with a star in it underneath the sword. If flip the coin over and look at the back of it it is a circle with a star in it. Inside the star is a pentagon with what looks the be the outline shape of a tiny head. I can send scans or pictures to you if you'd like.
Thank you,
Justin

Answer
Hi Justin:

Thanks for your question.

I'll try and answer your question with the information you provided, but if you want to ask a follow-up question, and attach a photo, I'll revise my answer, if required. I'm not familiar with this 1975 coin, but it is likely an altered coin, done after it left the mint. The "Russian" stamp was punched into your coin by a private firm or individual. One of the more "famous" ones, "Kennedy looks at Lincoln", was stuck for various years. Coins like these sell on eBay from time to time for a dollar or two a piece to interested collectors.

I checked the archives under find and came up with a number of similar questions to yours that have been answered by AllExperts. You may want to review them for added information. The coins are novelties.

There is no added collector value to it since it was modified by a private entity after it left the mint. They were made as a novelty and sold as a collectable.

If you live close to a coin shop, they should offer you an opinion as to what you have and the value at no charge. Dealers normally pay between 50% to 60% of retail for items they want.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.