Experts Confirm That the 1933 Penny Marcus Found Is a Counterfeit

However, after acknowlegding that the penny was "one of the better counterfeit types", the experts confirmed that it was not legitimate. They said that the weight and diameter of the penny were slightly off and not in line with a piece produced by the Royal Mint.

A British man's hopes of striking it rich with a rare 1933 penny, which had an estimated value of 60,000 pounds ($72,000), were dashed after experts confirmed that it was a counterfeit.

Marcus, from Aberdeen, Scotland, had inherited the penny from his grandfather and was planning on selling it at auction. After learning about the coin's potential worth, he contacted the Royal Mint Museum to get it authenticated.

However, while acknowledging that the penny was "one of the better counterfeit types," the experts confirmed that it was not legitimate. They said that the weight and diameter of the penny were slightly off and not in line with a piece produced by the Royal Mint.

An email from the Royal Mint Museum to Marcus, as shared by the Press & Journal, reads: "Thanks for bringing the 1933 penny for authentication. We see a number of supposed 1933 pennies, many of which are simply altered or modified dates, or are plainly obvious replicas. But this example is one of the better counterfeit types."

It added: "The gauge is not consistent across the piece. The coin is thicker in one end than the other. This is all indicative that the coin is counterfeit."

The museum concluded by saying that the penny "is a good reproduction" but ultimately not a "genuine 1933 penny".

Marcus admitted that he was disappointed by the news but would still be taking the penny to auction.

He said on the Cheeky Podcast: "It’ll still be in the auction – I can’t tell you how disappointed I am. But yeah, we came close. It’s a shame."