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Another sad story of a stolen coin collection in Castro Valley, CA
Goldbully
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Rare Castro Valley coin collection stolen, missing
By Kristofer Noceda
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/28/2010 12:00:00 AM PST
CASTRO VALLEY — Behind every rare coin Ray McCoy owns lies a story.
Take, for example, his Franklin half dollars, which he purchased in honor of his late friend.
The coins were originally part of a collection owned by Frank Miller, who previously operated the Fremont Coin Gallery. Miller was murdered in 1993 — shot and killed during a robbery at his store.
McCoy purchased the coins shortly after Miller's death as a way to remember his friend, who shared the same passion for coin and stamp collecting.
But those coins, along with 90 percent of McCoy's collection, are now missing.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is investigating a burglary that occurred earlier this month at McCoy's residence in the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park off Castro Valley Boulevard.
The stolen coins have an estimated value of $5,000, McCoy said.
"I was stunned. It's like when someone kidnaps your child," he said. "You know it has been done, but you go into immediate denial."
McCoy, 64, has been collecting coins since he was 10.
The coins were also a teaching tool he used as a lead-in to history and other related curricula during his career as an educator, from which he retired in 1993.
Sgt. J.D. Nelson said no one has been arrested for the burglary, but McCoy thinks a man he helped may have been involved.
On Feb. 7, McCoy was leaving Eden Medical Center after visiting a friend when a man who knew him asked for a ride home.
The two then returned to McCoy's home while the man waited for a call from his wife.
McCoy's coin collection was out, so they naturally began discussing it.
"He then asked me to take him to the BART station, so I did," McCoy said. "But while I was driving he made a call on his cell phone."
Once he dropped off the man at the BART station, McCoy was asked to wait 15 minutes before heading back home.
"Then I realized something was not right," he said. "I headed back home as fast as I could."
But it was too late.
McCoy saw his home had been broken into and that the only things missing were the coins.
It was too much of a coincidence to rule out of the equation the man he had helped, he said.
"I thought I was doing a favor for a man who needed help and he thanked me by ripping me off," McCoy said. "You can't always trust people."
The case is still under investigation, said Nelson, who added that there has yet to be an official suspect tied to the burglary.
Meanwhile, McCoy has placed calls to fellow collector friends and area coin dealers warning them about anyone looking to sell his rare collection.
"The reason we collect is not necessarily for profit," McCoy said. "We pride ourselves in putting together a collection. It is like a painting. We are really more interested in the art."
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By Kristofer Noceda
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/28/2010 12:00:00 AM PST
CASTRO VALLEY — Behind every rare coin Ray McCoy owns lies a story.
Take, for example, his Franklin half dollars, which he purchased in honor of his late friend.
The coins were originally part of a collection owned by Frank Miller, who previously operated the Fremont Coin Gallery. Miller was murdered in 1993 — shot and killed during a robbery at his store.
McCoy purchased the coins shortly after Miller's death as a way to remember his friend, who shared the same passion for coin and stamp collecting.
But those coins, along with 90 percent of McCoy's collection, are now missing.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office is investigating a burglary that occurred earlier this month at McCoy's residence in the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park off Castro Valley Boulevard.
The stolen coins have an estimated value of $5,000, McCoy said.
"I was stunned. It's like when someone kidnaps your child," he said. "You know it has been done, but you go into immediate denial."
McCoy, 64, has been collecting coins since he was 10.
The coins were also a teaching tool he used as a lead-in to history and other related curricula during his career as an educator, from which he retired in 1993.
Sgt. J.D. Nelson said no one has been arrested for the burglary, but McCoy thinks a man he helped may have been involved.
On Feb. 7, McCoy was leaving Eden Medical Center after visiting a friend when a man who knew him asked for a ride home.
The two then returned to McCoy's home while the man waited for a call from his wife.
McCoy's coin collection was out, so they naturally began discussing it.
"He then asked me to take him to the BART station, so I did," McCoy said. "But while I was driving he made a call on his cell phone."
Once he dropped off the man at the BART station, McCoy was asked to wait 15 minutes before heading back home.
"Then I realized something was not right," he said. "I headed back home as fast as I could."
But it was too late.
McCoy saw his home had been broken into and that the only things missing were the coins.
It was too much of a coincidence to rule out of the equation the man he had helped, he said.
"I thought I was doing a favor for a man who needed help and he thanked me by ripping me off," McCoy said. "You can't always trust people."
The case is still under investigation, said Nelson, who added that there has yet to be an official suspect tied to the burglary.
Meanwhile, McCoy has placed calls to fellow collector friends and area coin dealers warning them about anyone looking to sell his rare collection.
"The reason we collect is not necessarily for profit," McCoy said. "We pride ourselves in putting together a collection. It is like a painting. We are really more interested in the art."
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Comments
I haven't heard of any dealers in the area being approached to buy a collection of Franklin Halves recently.
The dealer who was murdered was more commonly known as Ron Miller. He was the previous owner of Fremont Coin Gallery in Fremont, CA.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
"No good deed goes unpunished"
and btw an ex policeofficer told me that. Theres some serious food for thought.