Interesting Article in The Numismatist

KevinGlo

I read about the 1933 Eagles in the magazine, but what about all the other gold coins made that year. It seems that in their attempt to remind us about one forgotten coin, they have forgotten about two others. The $2.5 and $5. Does anybody know the stories of those coins? If so, do tell.

jeffnpcb

Like the '33 $20 gold, they were supposed to be all melted back down and never left the mints. Nobody has turned one up, but they could be out there!

Conder101

They hadn't struck any quarter or half eagles that year yet when the gold confiscation order came down so there were none of that date to melt down or "escape". The last year they struck either of those denominations was 1929.

jom

Yep, Conder101 is correct (as usual). They had quit making the series a good 4 years before 1933.

My only question is about the 1933 $10. Why is it considered legal and the $20 not? I know the "official" answer but is that just a spin?

jom

Conder101

The 1933 eagles were struck earlier than the double eagles and some of them had already been turned over to the Federal Reserve before the gold order came down. Since they had been released, the government paid for them, and it was possible that some had already been distributed they considered them as having been "officially issued". That is why the say the double eagles are not legal. Although they had been struck prior to the gold order, none had been shipped to the Fed yet. The only way they could have gotten out was by theft, through a treasury official (Such as the pieces Woodin is reported to have had.), or direct purchase from the Treasury (And they did offer them for sale.).

ksteelheader

ttt