2007 Theft from ANA Museum
Julian
Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
Please look at this list, as per ANA email received today:
http://www.money.org/ana_custom/stolenCoinsPage.htm
http://www.money.org/ana_custom/stolenCoinsPage.htm
PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
0
Comments
Country Date/mm Denomination Grade Material Photo (link) Status
Albania 1928 R 100 Franga Pattern - KM Pr38 AU Gold Photo unknown
Australia 1813 "Holey Dollar" 5 Shillings - Spalding 20 EF Silver Photo stolen
Australia 1813 "Dump" 15 Pence - Mira dies A/1 VF+ Silver Photo stolen
Belgium 1912 100 Francs Plain Edge Pattern - KM Pn193 Proof Gold Photo unknown
Belgium 1835 / 3 2 Centimes - KM 4.2 EF Bronze stolen
Canada 1914 C Sovereign - Seaby 3997 EF Gold stolen
Colonial 1652 Massachusetts Oak Tree 3 Pence - Noe 28 EF Silver Photo unknown
Colonial 1652 Massachusetts Pine Tree Shilling - Noe 16 small planchet VF-35 Silver Photo unknown
Colonial 1778 Rhode Island Ship Medal - Breen 1142 EF Pewter Photo unknown
Colonial 1781 Ireland North American Token - Breen 1143/1144 VF Copper Photo unknown
Colonial 1783 John Chalmers Shilling - Breen 1011, short worm variety EF-45+ Silver Photo unknown
Colonial 1785 USA Bar Cent - Breen 1145 VF Copper Photo unknown
Great Britain 1839 1/2 Sovereign, Proof - Seaby 3859 MS Gold stolen
Great Britain 1887 5 Pounds, Proof - Seaby 3864 MS Gold stolen
Great Britain 1937 5 Pounds, Proof - Seaby 4074 MS Gold stolen
Great Britain 1937 2 Pounds, Proof - Seaby 4075 MS Gold stolen
Great Britain 1937 Half Sovereign, Proof - Seaby 4077 MS Gold stolen
Great Britain 1994 100 Pounds - Seaby 4282 Unc Gold stolen
Great Britain 1799 Farthing - Seaby 3779 EF Bronze stolen
Great Britain 1821 Sixpence - Seaby 3813 Unc Silver stolen
Great Britain 1844 1/3 Farthing - Seaby 3952 Unc Bronze stolen
Great Britain 1902 Crown - Seaby 3979 EF Silver stolen
Mexico 1732 F 8 Reales - KM 103 VF Silver Photo stolen
Mexico 1733 MF 8 Reales - KM 103 EF Silver Photo stolen
Mexico 1799 FM 8 Escudo - KM 158 EF Gold Photo stolen
Mexico 1733 MX 4 Reales MX/XM - KM 94 VF Silver Photo unknown
Mexico 1829 Pi 8 Reales Pattern - KM Pn21 MS Copper unknown
Mexico 1842 Mo 8 Reales Pattern - KM Pn61 variety MS Lead Photo unknown
Mexico 1843 Mo 8 Reales Pattern - KM Pn64/65 Pr Copper Photo unknown
Mexico 1844 Mo 8 Reales MO/MM Pattern - KM Pn68 Pr Copper Photo unknown
Mexico 1848 Mo 8 Reales Pattern - not in KM MS Copper unknown
Mexico 1860 Mo 8 Reales Pattern - not in KM MS Copper unknown
Mexico 1917 G 1 Peso Pattern from Guerrero EF Silver unknown
Netherlands 1946 United Nations Proposed Pattern - Franklin Roosevelt portrait BU Gold unknown
Peru 1656 Silver Bar from Potosi, from the Maravillas shipwreck (73lbs) Salvage Silver Photo unknown
Poland 1928 2 Zlote Pattern - KM Pn310 Proof Gold Photo unknown
Poland 1928 5 Zlotych - Km Pn316 Proof Gold Photo unknown
U.S. 1795 $5 Half Eagle - Breen 6414 AU-50 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1869 $5 Half Eagle - Breen 6671 Pr-63 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1799 $10 Eagle - Breen 6840 EF-45 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1841 O $10 Eagle - Breen 6855 AU-50 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1866 Nickel Pattern - Judd 481 Pr-64 Nickel Photo stolen
U.S. 1883 Nickel Pattern - Judd 1709 Pr-64 Aluminum Photo stolen
U.S. 1870 Standard Quarter Pattern - Judd 897 Pr-63BN Copper Photo stolen
U.S. 1836 Gobrecht Dollar Pattern - Judd 60 Pr-61 Silver Photo stolen
U.S. 1915 S $1 Panama Pacific Exposition Commemorative MS-65 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1915 S $2.50 Panama Pacific Exposition Commemorative MS-65 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1852 Half Cent - 1st Restrike - Breen 1622 Pr-65BN Copper stolen
U.S. 1853 Half Cent - Breen 1624 MS-64BN Copper stolen
U.S. 1855 Half Cent - Breen 1626 MS-64BN Copper stolen
U.S. 1858/7 Die Stage A Flying Eagle Cent - Snow 1 MS-63 Copper stolen
U.S. 1858 Flying Eagle Cent - Snow PR1 Pr-64CA Copper stolen
U.S. 1859 Indian Cent - Breen 1944 Pr-64 Copper stolen
U.S. 1863 Indian Cent Pattern - Judd 302 Pr-66CA Copper Photo stolen
U.S. 1877 Indian Cent - Breen 1994 Pr-64RB Copper stolen
U.S. 1905 $1 Lewis & Clark Commemorative MS-64 Gold Photo stolen
U.S. 1793 Chain Cent - Sheldon 3, Leaning R VF-30 Copper Photo unknown
U.S. 1864 Indian Cent Pattern - Judd 360 Proof Oroide Photo stolen
U.S. 1792 Half Disme Pattern - Judd 7 EF-40 Silver Photo unknown
U.S. 1916 D Mercury Dime - Breen 3599 AU-50 Silver Photo unknown
U.S. 1873 Trade Dollar Pattern - Judd 1310 Proof Silver Photo unknown
U.S. 1882 $3 Indian Princess Head Counterfeit MS-60 Gold Photo unknown
U.S. 1907 $20 Double Eagle High Relief - Breen 7359/60 MS-65 Gold Photo unknown
U.S. 1931 $20 Double Eagle - Breen 7416 MS-64 Gold Photo unknown
U.S. 1873 2 Cent Piece (Open 3) Pr-64BN Copper stolen
U.S. 1877 Indian Head Cent - Breen 1994 MS-64 Copper unknown
U.S. 1878 3 Cent Piece - Breen 2440 Pr-65 Nickel stolen
U.S. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent - Snow 9 Pr Copper stolen
U.S. 1909 S Indian Head Cent - Breen 2051 MS-65 RD Copper stolen
U.S. 1864 Two Cent Small Motto - Breen 2371 MS-64 BN Copper Photo stolen
U.S. 1872 Two Cent - Breen 2407 Pr-65 Copper stolen
U.S. 1837 Seated Liberty Half Dime - Breen 3007 AU-55 Silver stolen
U.S. 1843 Seated Liberty Half Dime - Breen 3031 MS-60 Silver stolen
U.S. 1879 CC Morgan Dollar - VAM 3 Unc Silver stolen
U.S. 1922 Peace Dollar - "railroad" edge broadstrike AU Silver Photo stolen
U.S. 1801 $10 Capped Bust Eagle - Breen 6843 AU 58 Gold stolen
U.S. 1929 $5 Indian Half Eagle - Breen 6829 MS 63 Gold stolen
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WILMINGTON, Del.
Federal prosecutors say a California man has pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $1 million worth of rare coins from a Colorado museum.
Thirty-three-year-old Wyatt Yeager of Martinez pleaded guilty to theft of major artwork.
According to the felony complaint, Yeager was collections manager at the American Numismatic Association Money Museum in Colorado Springs. In 2007, Yeager embezzled rare coins and sold them at auctions in the U.S. and abroad
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19729557.htm
I live very close to Martinez, California, previously known as the birthplace of baseball player Joe DiMaggio.
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<< <i>Maybe he misunderstood the job title "Collections Manager." >>
In my opinion, the ANA should be transparent on the details of 1) how the theft or thefts were allowed to happen and 2) efforts to recover the coins or compensation.
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"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
When you do that, you are stealing from everybody.
You have to feel bad for all the legitimate buyers out there who are about to get the shaft. Wouldn't surprise me if a few of these show up in recent auction archives.
<< <i>The report states that the stolen coins were sold at auction. Does anybody know if this means an auction company, or through E-Bay? If there are records, can the ANA (or its insurer if the loss was covered) pursue the coins and recover the stolen property, or recover the value from the last person they can find holding the bag?
In my opinion, the ANA should be transparent on the details of 1) how the theft or thefts were allowed to happen and 2) efforts to recover the coins or compensation. >>
At least some of the coins were sold through auction companies, both in the United States and abroad. The ANA will be working through all legal means to recover the coins.
As indicated in Julian's initial post, the ANA has created a website which lists the stolen coins and will track the recovery efforts.
While specific security policies and mechanisms can't be discussed for obvious reasons, the ANA has made policy and equipment changes subsequent to the discovery of the theft.
Greg
<< <i>This is sad... I wonder if there's any link between this and the discontinuing of the ANA Internship? >>
No. Realize this theft occurred in 2007. If the ANA internship program was to end because of this, that would have happened well before this year.
The ANA internships were not offered this past summer as the funding for the Bass internship (from the Harry Bass Foundation) ran out in 2010. That resulted in a significant increase in cost for the ANA Internship and the program was eliminated for 2011. I hope that we can find a way to offer internships again in the future.
Greg
Maybe 6 months?
Does give one pause to contemplate any donations to the ANA and it's Museum.
bob
<< <i>Wow, how long can we go between, thefts, embezzlement, firings, etc?
Maybe 6 months?
Does give one pause to contemplate any donations to the ANA and it's Museum.
bob
Bob -- Realize this theft occurred in early 2007. Unfortunately, the investigation required confidentiality until Mr. Yeager pled guilty today.
I remain confident that the direction the ANA is heading in today is far better than in the past.
Greg
<< <i>Wow, how long can we go between, thefts, embezzlement, firings, etc?
Maybe 6 months?
Does give one pause to contemplate any donations to the ANA and it's Museum.
bob
You could play the other angle. Visit the ANA Museum NOW!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
However, I don't see it on the list, so maybe this is not isolated.
This is the reason that the entire collection (and every museums collection) should be photographed and posted somewhere searchable on a their web site.
<< <i>I first noticed this two years ago when I mentioned that a 1856 S1 Flying Eagle was missing from the collection and they didn't seem to want to pursue it further. I guess they knew.
However, I don't see it on the list, so maybe this is not isolated.
This is the reason that the entire collection (and every museums collection) should be photographed and posted somewhere searchable on a their web site. >>
Could be from another theft in 2008-2009 or so that we won't hear about for another couple of years... hope not!!!!
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
The 1863 J-302 is a Very Rare Copper-nickel 1863 With L Pattern, but the imaged coin is a 1863 Indian cent:
The coin you referring to is accounted for and in the Money Musuem's special collection. We have two of them, in fact.
Thank you,
RyAnne Scott
Library & Communication Director
<< <i>This is the reason that the entire collection (and every museums collection) should be photographed and posted somewhere searchable on a their web site. >>
Absolutely. The ANS is aggressively imaging their collection.
No one should give material to a museum that isn't imaging their collection onto the Internet. That is just table stakes these days. Anything less is crappy museum practice, sorry to say it.
...from the Chicago Tribune...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-crime-coinstre80b2dy-20120112,0,4283952.story
"The case was prosecuted by David Hall, an assistant U.S. attorney in Delaware with wide experience in crimes involving art and cultural property."
Thanks for clearing that up. Don't mean to cause any more anguish.
linky
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Quick follow up on the photo: This photo was provided to the FBI as an example image of what an 1863 Indian cent looks like. (It show the laymen an example of the coin.) In our rush to put together a detailed listing for the website upon the theft's announcement, it was included without noting that it was an example. In light of this, we've gone over the list and all example images have been marked as such.
Thanks,
RyAnne
<< <i>Didn't Sheldon also steal coins from the ANS collection while doing research? I wonder how many collectors who were considering donating some coins to the ANA are now reconsidering due to the ANA's lax security? >>
Looking at the haul it seems to be well beyond lax security.
<< <i>Didn't Sheldon also steal coins from the ANS collection while doing research? I wonder how many collectors who were considering donating some coins to the ANA are now reconsidering due to the ANA's lax security? >>
Technically, he "exchanged" them for lower grade examples
IIRC they didn't figure it out until after he was dead.
I've decided the best model for preservation & scholarship is the "benevolent dictator." This is the well-heeled collector who knows what he has got and is open about sharing it with the researchers. A single individual tends to have a much higher personal stake in a collection than an institution does. Also there are less people who can access it so the level of security is higher.