The Story
Julian
Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭
As most of you know, my car was broken into during my return from a show last month.
I received many phone calls about the missing coins, but nothing matched.
On Oct. 29, I received a call from an eastern dealer who does not want to be named at this time. He was being offered some coins and asked me about them. After he had mentioned three coins, I was virtually certain that these were, indeed, the stolen inventory.
I then called the police detective that had been working on the case and gave him the information. By late that afternoon, he had set up, in conjunction with the FBI and another agency, a meeting for the next morning to view the coins.
Early Oct. 30, my son, Sam, and I drove to meet with the assembled law enforcement officers. The original plan was abandoned and the eight officers then went to the place that the coins were supposed to be, while Sam and I waited to be called to identify the items.
After nearly an hour, I was called and eventually told that it really wasn’t necessary for me to identify the coins, as my name was all over them. A few minutes later, I went and saw the coins, which were all mixed up, but very few had been removed from the 2 X 2’s and I don’t think that any had been broken out of their encapsulation, either.
The following Tuesday, I went to examine the coins more closely and found over 1700 coins and 300 notes in the custody of the FBI. The vast majority of the volume was there. There were some notable items missing.
The following week, the FBI made another visit, but no items were found. On Nov. 12, the FBI called and said that they were going to get some more coins and on a subsequent call, I was told that more coins including at least one item that I had noted as still missing, previously.
I have not been to examine this second group of coins yet, but will do so in the very near future.
As of this date, the original thieves have not been apprehended and I am not certain of exactly what else might be missing. This is an ongoing investigation and I am being as forthcoming as I am able to be at this time.
I am unable to express, adequately enough, my appreciation to the hundreds of well wishers and especially to the many, many, people that pledged money to a reward fund that was started by Jon Lerner and Laura Sperber. Many of my colleagues in the PNG also added to this fund and I will be eternally grateful to them, as well.
The numismatic press and the general press gave this a great deal of publicity and I believe that because of this publicity, the coins were able to be identified. I want to express my appreciation to, in no specific order, Coin World, Krause Publications, the Coin Dealer Newsletter, Heritage Numismatic, the various dealer networks, as well, and of course the message boards on CU and NGC. Doug Davis of the NCIC offered me his good offices, as well.
The law enforcement agencies, from the local police to the FBI, have been true professionals and are continuing to be as supportive as possible. I will probably never be able to properly express my appreciation to them either.
I received many phone calls about the missing coins, but nothing matched.
On Oct. 29, I received a call from an eastern dealer who does not want to be named at this time. He was being offered some coins and asked me about them. After he had mentioned three coins, I was virtually certain that these were, indeed, the stolen inventory.
I then called the police detective that had been working on the case and gave him the information. By late that afternoon, he had set up, in conjunction with the FBI and another agency, a meeting for the next morning to view the coins.
Early Oct. 30, my son, Sam, and I drove to meet with the assembled law enforcement officers. The original plan was abandoned and the eight officers then went to the place that the coins were supposed to be, while Sam and I waited to be called to identify the items.
After nearly an hour, I was called and eventually told that it really wasn’t necessary for me to identify the coins, as my name was all over them. A few minutes later, I went and saw the coins, which were all mixed up, but very few had been removed from the 2 X 2’s and I don’t think that any had been broken out of their encapsulation, either.
The following Tuesday, I went to examine the coins more closely and found over 1700 coins and 300 notes in the custody of the FBI. The vast majority of the volume was there. There were some notable items missing.
The following week, the FBI made another visit, but no items were found. On Nov. 12, the FBI called and said that they were going to get some more coins and on a subsequent call, I was told that more coins including at least one item that I had noted as still missing, previously.
I have not been to examine this second group of coins yet, but will do so in the very near future.
As of this date, the original thieves have not been apprehended and I am not certain of exactly what else might be missing. This is an ongoing investigation and I am being as forthcoming as I am able to be at this time.
I am unable to express, adequately enough, my appreciation to the hundreds of well wishers and especially to the many, many, people that pledged money to a reward fund that was started by Jon Lerner and Laura Sperber. Many of my colleagues in the PNG also added to this fund and I will be eternally grateful to them, as well.
The numismatic press and the general press gave this a great deal of publicity and I believe that because of this publicity, the coins were able to be identified. I want to express my appreciation to, in no specific order, Coin World, Krause Publications, the Coin Dealer Newsletter, Heritage Numismatic, the various dealer networks, as well, and of course the message boards on CU and NGC. Doug Davis of the NCIC offered me his good offices, as well.
The law enforcement agencies, from the local police to the FBI, have been true professionals and are continuing to be as supportive as possible. I will probably never be able to properly express my appreciation to them either.
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
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
however they probably have to be secret accolades.
FAN FREAKING TASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Julian this is AWESOME News! I'm so happy to hear that these have been recovered.
Mazel Tov!
<< <i>that eastern dealer deserves extreme accolades,
however they probably have to be secret accolades. >>
And that reward money!
I'm very happy for you and your family!
This is a great day!!!
I hope the other items show up soon!!
I am sure it will be a better Thanksgiving in at least one household this year.
Dan
Best, RYK
awesome news. good things come back to good people.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
That's one benefit of slabbing -- protecting the coins from some types of potential unforeseen damage...
I second the earlier posted Mazel Tov!
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
Hoard the keys.
<< <i>Excellent! Now let's get the bad guys, too. >>
Indeed! Get the rope...
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
Julian, I am very happy to hear this and hope that you will never experience it again, with hopefully all the other coins returned soon as well.
Dennis
Like VOC Numismatics on facebook
Stewart Huckaby
mailto:stewarth@HA.com
------------------------------------------
Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75261
Phone: 1-800-US-COINS, x1355
Heritage Auctions
.
CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
.
Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
.
More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
TD
Puro's Coins and Jewelry
Rutland, VT
(802)773-3883
Link to my website www.vtcoins.com
Link to my eBay auctions
Buy, sell and trade all coins, US paper money, jewelry, diamonds and anything made of gold, silver or platinum.
And hope the we get to hear "The rest of the Story soon".
We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
I trult hope that you recover all your property.
The FBI and local police police should all get accomadations for their great work.
BST Transactions: DonnyJf, MrOrganic, Justanothercoinaddict, Fivecents, Slq, Jdimmick,
Robb, Tee135, Ibzman350, Mercfan, Outhaul, Erickso1, Cugamongacoins, Indiananationals, Wayne Herndon
Negative BST Transactions:
<< <i>That is great news Julian.
I trult hope that you recover all your property.
The FBI and local police police should all get accomadations for their great work.
Sounds like the dealer network and not the police did a lot of the work but never the less.
Great outcome for a great guy. It helps me sleep at night that the demographic that is most likely to resort to a life of crime tends to be the one least likely to outsmart a common house plant.
As always, my best to you Julian
John Coyle
This is terrific news, Julian!
I hope that the rest of the items are recovered soon, that the perpetrators are captured quickly, and that your inventory is returned to you in short order!
When someone spends a lifetime building goodwill in the numismatic community, it pays off in a time of need. It has been very impressive to see all the people who have taken action to help in this situation. It says a lot about you, and them.
Adding my hopes to the others who look forward to recovering everything and seeing the perps caught.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
the recovered coins should get certified/re certified and labeled "julian leidman heist"
but in all seriousness... I truely am happy for julian and wait as well to see the mugshots of those %@$%&
I'm very happy for you!
<< <i>the recovered coins should get certified/re certified and labeled "julian leidman heist" >>
Cute, but I think that a Garrett or Eliasberg pedigree will still be worth much more!
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