1933 Double Eagle Display

Numiven · July 31, 2017 3:14PM

Enjoy!

Acting Deputy Director David Motl today announced that the United States Mint will display two of the ten 1933 Double Eagle Coins recovered by the government in 2004 that were the subject of 11 years of litigation, which was recently resolved in favor of the Government, at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Denver, Colorado, from August 1 to August 5.

https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/mint-to-display-1933-double-eagles-at-ana-worlds-fair-of-money?

JJSingleton · July 31, 2017 3:48PM

I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

PRECIOUSMENTAL · July 31, 2017 4:02PM

I'd much rather see AND hold an 1907 HR.

MrHalfDime · July 31, 2017 4:38PM

"If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back."

↑This ↑. I could not agree more.

jerseycat101 · July 31, 2017 4:40PM

I am excited to see them, now that the government possesses them!

MrEureka · July 31, 2017 4:48PM

@JJSingleton said:
I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

The government believes in its position. I think they're wrong, but sharing the coins is still a classy act.

Lakesammman · July 31, 2017 6:56PM

It hasn't been that long since they displayed all 10.......

GRANDAM · July 31, 2017 8:52PM

The Mint should sell raffle tickets and randomly award them to winning ticket holders.

ricko · August 1, 2017 6:02AM

I do not think they should melt them.... I also think they were legitimately obtained... They are part of numismatic history though, and, as such, should be preserved and periodically, displayed. Cheers, RickO

BillJones · August 1, 2017 6:10AM

I have no interest in participating in the government’s “victory lap.” They should send those things to Fort Knox and melt them. That’s what was supposed to be done with them, which is why the government took the legal action. The government should follow up on their policy and fire up the melting pot. > @MrEureka said:

@JJSingleton said:
I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

The government believes in its position. I think they're wrong, but sharing the coins is still a classy act.

I am sorry, but there is nothing "classy" about this whole affair. It is an example of government confiscation by unlawful means.

TwoSides2aCoin · August 1, 2017 6:21AM

Big brother to big bully to big deal. We are broke.

Insider2 · August 1, 2017 6:54AM

@BillJones said: "They should send those things to Fort Knox and melt them."

I disagree. IMO, any "true" numismatist with this attitude is, well... Now think this out Bill as you ARE a numismatist!

Those coins are part of history and what has happened to them - both good and bad - is now one more story. I fault the family for losing them to the government.

@PRECIOUSMENTAL said: "I'd much rather see AND hold an 1907 HR."

I've held one long ago at the SI. On he same day, I held an EXHR $20 - unforgettable and no comparison. A Pan Pac slug in Unc also beats the "common looking" 1933 Saint. The heft and shape of the slug makes you want to skip it across a smooth lake! At least that was my first thought after getting over its weight and beauty. You don't want to know what my second thought was...I never could have pulled it off.

BillJones · August 1, 2017 7:08AM

A slug would not "skip across a smooth lake" for long; it's too heavy.

There is a story, perhaps an urban legend, that one of the owners of a 1933 double eagle threw it in the ocean rather than give it up to the government.

TwoSides2aCoin · August 1, 2017 7:34AM

I'm sorry to disagree with the position of the government and any subsequent charade or parade of these numismatic treasures by any person representing my government.
Lock them up and throw away the key, or give them to the Langbord family. Israel Switt didn't steal them, and all those that did get minted and released... we will Never know . We do know that this case set a precedent. Class is in session (no pun intended). Researchers search for the truth. So should lawmen.

pmac · August 1, 2017 7:38AM

Sell them to Dan Carr so that he can make them into some other fantasy coin.

Insider2 · August 1, 2017 7:46AM

Oh no Bill,

Looks like I did a partial switch in opinion.

@pmac said: "Sell them to Dan Carr so that he can make them into some other fantasy coin."

GREAT IDEA! Melt one and send him the gold to mix into a batch of Carr/Mint/Open design contest gold replicas. Pay Carr for design and striking them, Government and family share rest of profit.

messydesk · August 1, 2017 7:48AM

Will they also be showing the severed heads of the Langbords in this exhibit?

I saw them when they were all on exhibit and there was some hope that they would be able to be owned and enjoyed by collectors. I also saw the Smithsonian's display a few years ago with a 1933 alongside an 1849 $20 that were intentionally preserved for the National Numismatic Collection. The current display feels more like a taunt than an exhibit. I do have a good title for it, though. "The Most Expensive Worthless Coins in the World."

JazzmanJAB · August 1, 2017 8:36AM

roadrunner · August 1, 2017 9:34AM

The Langbord decision is the 1st foot in the door for potential "recovery" of ANY coin that "may" have left the mint without their full faith and blessing.

Insider2 · August 1, 2017 9:38AM

Well, IMO they should have tried to "recover" ONLY one!

BillJones · August 1, 2017 9:46AM

@Insider2 said:
Well, IMO they should have tried to "recover" ONLY one!

That strategy would not have worked. Government wants everything.

RB1026 · August 1, 2017 10:39AM

Sick and tired of these "non-coins". I have zero interest in seeing them. They are worthless to me beyond being conversation pieces at this point. Since they are apparently illegal to own, they should indeed be melted and the gold value be applied to the national debt. (LOL - Like that's going to happen!)

Insider2 · August 1, 2017 10:41AM

@BillJones said: "That strategy would not have worked. Government wants everything."

Think this one out also...

The government may want everything but the other 9 don't exist. Get it?

CaptHenway · August 1, 2017 4:48PM

@BillJones said:
A slug would not "skip across a smooth lake" for long; it's too heavy.

There is a story, perhaps an urban legend, that one of the owners of a 1933 double eagle threw it in the ocean rather than give it up to the government.

@BillJones said:
A slug would not "skip across a smooth lake" for long; it's too heavy.

>
Never heard that one.

AUandAG · August 1, 2017 4:54PM

@JJSingleton said:
I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

This, if the American people cannot own one, they do not exist in my mind.

bob

Insider2 · August 1, 2017 5:05PM

@AUandAG said:

@JJSingleton said:
I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

This, if the American people cannot own one, they do not exist in my mind.

bob

I agree, If 99.99% of the American people will never own or touch an 1804 dollar, and all the other coins like it, then they don't exist either. LOL. I took a trip to the National Portrait Gallery and the walls were empty as all the paintings were not there either. Seems like a narrow minded opinion but of course your opinion is valid.

AUandAG · August 1, 2017 5:08PM

Coins and Art are made for the enjoyment or use of the people. The Gov't has proven that this coin is not legal to own. Why display it? If there were only ten or in the case of the 1804 dollar, less than ten and really expensive, then that is a completely different scenario.

bobl;)

Gazes · January 30, 2019 9:51AM

Read a short article in Coin World about why coins like these don't have some type of statue of limitations about owning them. It makes a lot of sense to have a statute of limitations making enforcement a non issue after a certain amount of time. We do it for serious crimes why not for coins. Further, the longer period of time from the "illegal" act, the more likely that someone innocent will be adversely impacted through no fault of their own.

jerseycat101 · January 30, 2019 10:02AM

@Gazes said:
Read a short article in Coin World about why coins like these don't have some type of statue of limitations about owning them. It makes a lot of sense to have a statute of limitations making enforcement a non issue after a certain amount of time. We do it for serious crimes why not for coins. Further, the longer period of time from the "illegal" act, the more likely that someone innocent will be adversely impacted through no fault of their own.

I am not a lawyer, but in the case of "statute of limitations", I would imagine that would shield the culprit from prosecution, but any ill-received gains from the crime would still be subject to "clawback".

fc · January 30, 2019 10:04AM

If the sheer majority were melted and that was supposed to be the fate of them.. give a couple more to the Smithsonian and melt the rest. Done. Now they are museum pieces in the hands of our govt/people and anyone interested can view them at a museum. Not a traveling road show for coin shows displaying coins that were supposed to have been destroyed. It seems to be a final proper ending to the whole mess.

Timbuk3 · January 30, 2019 11:56PM

Sorry, not interested in seeing them !!!

Edthelorax · January 31, 2019 12:15AM

Why don't they go after the 1913 Liberty Nickles if that is the case?

Zoins · January 31, 2019 12:31AM

@AUandAG said:

@JJSingleton said:
I have no interest in seeing these objects. If they are not legal to own then who cares. They should just melt them or give them back. Parading them around shows no class.

This, if the American people cannot own one, they do not exist in my mind.

bob

According to the Mint, the "American people" own all ten!

Namvet69 · January 31, 2019 4:01AM

I don't think they should have been seized. Our government screws up all sorts of stuff. These coins are going to end up in that huge warehouse at Area 51. Or they should each be on permanent exhibit across the country in various museums for we the people to see.

ReadyFireAim · January 31, 2019 6:26AM

Whereas: The government was criminally negligent in destroying beautiful objects of significant national interest after we the people had them created.

Whereas: The items in question also had intrinsic value that was seized unlawfully.

Whereas: The patriotic action of the person responsible for preserving these specimens was never given proper credit & instead was slandered.

So I'm not buying any of your mint crap until the American people are given their coins back with an apology.

1933 Double Eagle Display

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