Mint to display its 11 1933 Double Eagles in Pittsburg at the ANA WFoM

Old_Collector · July 28, 2026 11:06AM

The Mint announced today that it will have a display with all 11 of its 1933 Double Eagles at that ANA World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh on August 28. If you go, take some pictures and post them!

JimW · July 28, 2026 12:20PM

How many have Langbord provenance?

johnny9434 · July 28, 2026 12:25PM

Where'd that #12 come into play? I knew of 11

MFeld · July 28, 2026 1:21PM

@JimW said:
How many have Langbord provenance?

Presumably all of them.

Edited to correct: There were 10 Langbord coins. It appears that the 11th one was forfeited to the government by its owner after the Langbord trial.

“The Mint’s 11th 1933 Double Eagle, displayed here for the first time with the Mint’s other 10 specimens, was voluntarily and unconditionally surrendered to the government following the 2011 jury trial by a private citizen who acquired the coin on the open market and, to the government’s knowledge, was unaware at the time that private ownership of the piece was unlawful. Like all other 1933 Double Eagles recovered by the United States since 1944, this specimen traces its provenance to that same Philadelphia jeweler”

See here: https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-to-display-11-1933-double-eagle-gold-coins-together-for-the-first-time?srsltid=AfmBOooWHWyeLmJd675Hef9SDm9o59tDQ-1c-Zoxdcd898LW3r96tBg3

Typekat · July 28, 2026 1:30PM

Boy, the Feds sure like showing off the treasures they stole from the Langbords.
Just think of the enormous costs of time, effort and money the US Treasury has spent investigating, confiscating, and litigating the 1933 Double Eagles for the past 80 years or so.
And now they periodically parade these captured coins around, as if they were glorious war booty .

jmlanzaf · July 28, 2026 1:35PM

.

jmlanzaf · July 28, 2026 1:35PM

Are they shipping them there by UPS?

MFeld · July 28, 2026 1:51PM

@jmlanzaf said:

@MFeld said:

@JimW said:
How many have Langbord provenance?

Presumably of them.

All?

Fixed, thank you.

JBK · July 28, 2026 2:36PM

If i were there of course I'd go look at them, but I'd still have the feeling that it was ill gotten gains by the government. I guess it's better than melting them down.

Typekat · July 28, 2026 2:36PM

@jmlanzaf said:
Are they shipping them there by UPS?

Oh, no! That would just not be fitting!
I’m guessing a squad of Federal Marshalls in a convoy of black SUVs, 24-hour in-person guardianship of the booty, making a loooong weekend of it with tons of overtime for all, and who knows what else

Old_Collector · July 28, 2026 3:09PM

@Typekat said:

@jmlanzaf said:
Are they shipping them there by UPS?

Oh, no! That would just not be fitting!
I’m guessing a squad of Federal Marshalls in a convoy of black SUVs, 24-hour in-person guardianship of the booty, making a loooong weekend of it with tons of overtime for all, and who knows what else

But just in case anyone happens upon the "lost" case, email me -- we'll talk, I can go 10-20% over melt.

MrEureka · July 28, 2026 3:31PM

Should make for an interesting auction!

oldabeintx · July 28, 2026 3:49PM

@Typekat said:
Boy, the Feds sure like showing off the treasures they stole from the Langbords.
All I can think of is the enormous costs of time, effort and money the US Treasury has spent investigating, confiscating, litigating, and displaying these coins over the past 80 years or so.

Doesn’t seem right somehow, but glad they are sharing, I guess.

Typekat · July 28, 2026 6:23PM

@MrEureka said:
Should make for an interesting auction!

That they should! But…the owner of the ‘monetized’ 1933 was promised that can’t happen.

Better to donate one to the Smithsonian, and melt the rest.
Then they could sell limited mintage cents coated with the gold from these famous rarities! Flip this endless federal boondoggle into a money making deal for the Treasury!
Everybody’s happy!

How many cents can you plate with about 10 ounces of gold?

mach19 · July 28, 2026 7:09PM

I can't wait to see pictures !

Tomthemailcarrier · July 28, 2026 7:12PM

@Old_Collector said:
I’m skipping the pirate booty.

CaptHenway · July 28, 2026 7:17PM

@johnny9434 said:
Where'd that #12 come into play? I knew of 11

What #12 are you talking about. THE OP mentioned 11.

MFeld · July 28, 2026 7:18PM

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Where'd that #12 come into play? I knew of 11

What #12 are you talking about. THE OP mentioned 11.

Perhaps he originally wrote 12, but edited it?

johnny9434 · July 28, 2026 7:51PM

Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

usararecoins · July 28, 2026 8:03PM

I think there should be a "guess the grade" contest on them.

United States Mint to Display 11 1933 Double Eagle Gold Coins Together for the First Time
July 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2026 — United States Mint (Mint) Director Paul Hollis today announced that the Mint will display all 11 of its 1933 Double Eagle gold coins together for the first time at the upcoming American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh on August 28.

“Mint history is American history,” said Director Hollis. “As America celebrates its Semiquincentennial, we reflect on our Nation’s storied past. These 11 coins were minted during a time of hardship and strife, yet nearly a century later, they endure as treasured emblems of growth, resilience, and opportunity.”

2windy2fish · July 28, 2026 8:40PM

Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

humanssuck · July 28, 2026 8:48PM

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

jmlanzaf · July 28, 2026 11:48PM

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

True. They also aren't completely worthless now. They are worth melt!

scotty1419 · July 29, 2026 6:43AM

It sounds like there's an interesting unspoken story around the additional example that was forfeited after the auction???

Was it possibly purchased from the same source? If that was me, it'd be very hard to simply cede that to the gov, even after the legal loss...

MFeld · July 29, 2026 6:52AM

@scotty1419 said:
It sounds like there's an interesting unspoken story around the additional example that was forfeited after the auction???

Was it possibly purchased from the same source? If that was me, it'd be very hard to simply cede that to the gov, even after the legal loss...

The coin was almost certainly purchased from one of the dealers who bought it from Izzy Switt or in a resale by one of those dealers. I haven’t read about a single example that didn’t originate through Switt.

Copperindian · July 29, 2026 7:00AM

Attending the show; I’ll take pics & post here.

TwoSides2aCoin · July 29, 2026 7:03AM

                                    🤷

CaptHenway · July 29, 2026 8:03AM

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

fathom · July 29, 2026 9:12AM

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

Somebody get to the Prez:

"I hereby monetize the 1933 Double Eagles"
Boom, done.

BLUEJAYWAY · July 29, 2026 10:24AM

Have the experts ever attempted a visual grade for the coins? And will the coins be displayed so one can see the reverses as well? Like a flip over option.

WinLoseWin · July 29, 2026 12:00PM

@BLUEJAYWAY said:
Have the experts ever attempted a visual grade for the coins? And will the coins be displayed so one can see the reverses as well? Like a flip over option.

Knew this had been discussed before. Forgot it was way back in 2009.

The 10 1933 $20 gold coins graded

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/748415/the-10-1933-20-gold-coins-graded/p1

BLUEJAYWAY · July 29, 2026 12:59PM

@WinLoseWin said:

@BLUEJAYWAY said:
Have the experts ever attempted a visual grade for the coins? And will the coins be displayed so one can see the reverses as well? Like a flip over option.

Knew this had been discussed before. Forgot it was way back in 2009.

The 10 1933 $20 gold coins graded

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/748415/the-10-1933-20-gold-coins-graded/p1

Thanks. Before my time here.

messydesk · July 29, 2026 1:19PM

I'll have to see if I can park my photo gear in front of them and get a decent picture. I was able to do this with the Smithsonian's 1933 several years ago, but only the obverse.

johnny9434 · July 29, 2026 1:25PM

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

Thank you. Knew about the Langbord and 1 other not the rest til now 🙂
Edited for spelling

jacrispies · July 29, 2026 1:42PM

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

Was the volunteer surrender James A. Stack?

WinLoseWin · July 29, 2026 2:48PM

@jacrispies said:

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

Was the volunteer surrender James A. Stack?

No, according to the 2021 auction lot description of the legal 1933 $20. The Stack coin went back to the government in 1945.

The note down below is found after the "Catalogue note" section.

It seems to be a delayed load separate from the main shorter description. Titled "THE ULTIMATE COIN: THE 1933 DOUBLE EAGLE" , it is practically an entire book with info and images I had not seen elsewhere.

You may have a different view than their perpesctive that all others are stolen outside of the Smithsonian (of course that has to be their point when marketing the only currently legal example). But, it is an interesting read with timelines and covers all known examples.

Three Treasures – Collected by Stuart Weitzman - Lot 1 - The 1933 Double Eagle

https://sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/three-treasures-collected-by-stuart-weitzman/the-1933-double-eagle

.
.

**"...The ten coins noted as Langbord were determined by the Courts to be property of the United States Government. Subsequently, an additional 1933 Double Eagle (the ‘Mystery Coin’) was voluntarily surrendered to the United States Government.

THE ‘MYSTERY’ COIN’S RECONSTRUCTED PROVENANCE:

United States Mint, Philadelphia, 1933; via George McCann (February [?] 1937); Israel Switt, “at about the beginning of February 1937”; Abe Kosoff, 1937 or later; R.E. Naftzger, Jr., date unknown; H. Jeff Browning (via Mike Brownlee, Stanley Kesselman, and Julian Leidman), 1975 (c. $250,000 ); Anonymous (via Mike Brownlee), after 1978; United States Government, after 2011."**

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s4ny · July 29, 2026 2:51PM

With both the Langbord 10 and the single other one, I don't understand why they are not sitting in a box in Zurich.

JBK · July 29, 2026 4:57PM

I'm not sure why anyone would voluntarily surrender one. The most they could do is confiscate it if they found out that you had it.

MFeld · July 29, 2026 5:39PM

@JBK said:
I'm not sure why anyone would voluntarily surrender one. The most they could do is confiscate it if they found out that you had it.

My guess is that the government was aware he had the coin and that after the Langbord case ruling, he realized his legal footing was on extremely thin ice. Somewhere in the very back of my mind (or maybe even my imagination) I have the thought that perhaps he was given some sort of favorable tax write off.

Old_Collector · July 29, 2026 8:05PM

@jmlanzaf said:

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

True. They also aren't completely worthless now. They are worth melt!

They are held by the US Mint not under any statutory authority, but simply as government property under common law property rules, as they were never issued and thus considered stolen property that over time was recovered.

That means that the President could direct the Secretary of the Treasury under an executive order to auction the 11 coins off at any time without any further legal authority, the money to be simply added to the general fund of the Treasury.

I see no legal reason why this is not being considered, it is not the same as property held at the Smithsonian for all Americans in a museum setting, which is controlled under a variety of federal laws and cannot be sold without Congressional authority or returned to the owners in the case of loaned property.

GoldFinger1969 · July 29, 2026 9:36PM

@Typekat said:
Boy, the Feds sure like showing off the treasures they stole from the Langbords.
Just think of the enormous costs of time, effort and money the US Treasury has spent investigating, confiscating, >and litigating the 1933 Double Eagles for the past 80 years or so. And now they periodically parade these captured >coins around, as if they were glorious war booty .

These "stolen" coins didn't show up as any deficit in the gold accounting at that time. All the gold the Mint was supposed to have at the time....they had.

OTOH...that bag of 1928 Double Eagles that was snuck out of the Mint like an extra bagel or two from the breakfast cart ? Nothing ever found by the crackerjacks at Secret Service or Treasury.

250 Double Eagles.....$5,000 in the entire bag ? Nothing...they even had to pass a forgivness bill to hold harmless the Superintendent of the Mint who was clearly innocent and blameless but had nonetheless signed off on the inventory sheet and was both professionally and personally liable for the shortfall/theft at that time.

MFeld · July 30, 2026 2:10AM

@Old_Collector said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

True. They also aren't completely worthless now. They are worth melt!

They are held by the US Mint not under any statutory authority, but simply as government property under common law property rules, as they were never issued and thus considered stolen property that over time was recovered.

That means that the President could direct the Secretary of the Treasury under an executive order to auction the 11 coins off at any time without any further legal authority, the money to be simply added to the general fund of the Treasury.

I see no legal reason why this is not being considered, it is not the same as property held at the Smithsonian for all Americans in a museum setting, which is controlled under a variety of federal laws and cannot be sold without Congressional authority or returned to the owners in the case of loaned property.

As far as a legal reason precluding auctioning off of the coins, what about the agreement that the government made prior to the sale of the Fenton coin, that it would be the only one which could be legally owned?

johnny9434 · July 30, 2026 2:15AM

Interesting things here 🤔

messydesk · July 30, 2026 6:06AM

@MFeld said:

@Old_Collector said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

True. They also aren't completely worthless now. They are worth melt!

They are held by the US Mint not under any statutory authority, but simply as government property under common law property rules, as they were never issued and thus considered stolen property that over time was recovered.

That means that the President could direct the Secretary of the Treasury under an executive order to auction the 11 coins off at any time without any further legal authority, the money to be simply added to the general fund of the Treasury.

I see no legal reason why this is not being considered, it is not the same as property held at the Smithsonian for all Americans in a museum setting, which is controlled under a variety of federal laws and cannot be sold without Congressional authority or returned to the owners in the case of loaned property.

As far as a legal reason precluding auctioning off of the coins, what about the agreement that the government made prior to the sale of the Fenton coin, that it would be the only one which could be legally owned?

Government: "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

Old_Collector · July 30, 2026 6:08AM

@MFeld said:

@Old_Collector said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@humanssuck said:

@2windy2fish said:
Fascinating really…Because unless the US government decides to sell them at some point (highly unlikely) they are completely worthless…
Likely 400 million dollars worth of numismatics…

If they were sold, they wouldnt bring anywhere near that. You can't take a sale price for a 1 of 1 only legal one of its kind coin and assume 11 more becoming legal would sell at the same price. They would still be highly prized, but you'd likely be looking at closer to 30 - 40 million total for all 11, not each.

True. They also aren't completely worthless now. They are worth melt!

They are held by the US Mint not under any statutory authority, but simply as government property under common law property rules, as they were never issued and thus considered stolen property that over time was recovered.

That means that the President could direct the Secretary of the Treasury under an executive order to auction the 11 coins off at any time without any further legal authority, the money to be simply added to the general fund of the Treasury.

I see no legal reason why this is not being considered, it is not the same as property held at the Smithsonian for all Americans in a museum setting, which is controlled under a variety of federal laws and cannot be sold without Congressional authority or returned to the owners in the case of loaned property.

As far as a legal reason precluding auctioning off of the coins, what about the agreement that the government made prior to the sale of the Fenton coin, that it would be the only one which could be legally owned?

The government breaks agreements all the time, but among the ideas that I emailed to Mr. Hollis, I did mention the 11 Double Eagles and not to worry -- he wants them to be placed around the country in museums, and there are many with adequate security that have expressed interest.

He was a lot more positive on 95% copper cents in all of the sets in the future and even thought that silver "wartime" alloy nickels would be an interesting addition to the silver proof sets. And he is very responsive -- he replied in under 24 hours. We are in good hands I think.

And he did mention that they generally reside at West Point, so the Mint has a pretty good vault itself.

Old_Collector · July 30, 2026 6:12AM

@messydesk said:

Government: "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

Now we know how Mark Carney feels. That sounds like a Borg quote.

messydesk · July 30, 2026 6:41AM

@Old_Collector said:

@messydesk said:

Government: "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

Now we know how Mark Carney feels. That sounds like a Borg quote.

Wrong universe.

lermish · July 30, 2026 7:32AM

@Old_Collector said:

@messydesk said:

Government: "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

Now we know how Mark Carney feels. That sounds like a Borg quote.

Old_Collector · July 30, 2026 7:46AM

@lermish said:

@messydesk said:

@Old_Collector said:

@messydesk said:

Government: "I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."

Now we know how Mark Carney feels. That sounds like a Borg quote.

Wrong universe.

It's been too long!

jacrispies · July 30, 2026 10:45AM

@WinLoseWin said:

@jacrispies said:

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

Was the volunteer surrender James A. Stack?

No, according to the 2021 auction lot description of the legal 1933 $20. The Stack coin went back to the government in 1945.

Is the Stack coin not counted because we assume it was destroyed soon after secret service took possession?

WinLoseWin · July 30, 2026 12:11PM

@jacrispies said:

@WinLoseWin said:

@jacrispies said:

@CaptHenway said:

@johnny9434 said:
Isint there 12 1933 double double eagles listed? Unless there was a mistake somewhere

There are 14 known. The Smithsonian has the two originally given to it in 1933, there is the privately held Farouk Specimen, the Mint seized 10 from the Langbord Family and one other was voluntarily surrendered to the Mint.

Was the volunteer surrender James A. Stack?

No, according to the 2021 auction lot description of the legal 1933 $20. The Stack coin went back to the government in 1945.

Is the Stack coin not counted because we assume it was destroyed soon after secret service took possession?

There is an image from the auction lot description that shows it among 8 (or 9) destroyed in 1956. It says the Eliasberg coin was destroyed then also but no image of the documentation. There is this paragraph from the lot:

.
.

"The Secret Service had identified nine examples, but a tenth bubbled up in 1952. Baltimorean Louis E. Eliasberg, learned there might be a cloud to the title of his 1933 Double Eagle and voluntarily surrendered it to the Mint. Knowing full well the Secret Service was seizing examples as potentially stolen property, Ira Reed had brazenly sold it to him for $1,000 on April 15, 1944. Eliasberg received no thanks for his honesty. In late August, 1956, Eliasberg’s 1933 Double Eagle, and the eight others previously seized, met their searing end in a crucible: witnessed and certified."

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Mint to display its 11 1933 Double Eagles in Pittsburg at the ANA WFoM

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