Court Reclaims 10 1933 St Gaudens Double Eagles

But weren't the coins struck after it was made explicitly illegal for the public to own them? Isn't this exactly why you can own a 1933 Eagle, because it was minted before the order? What legal scenario is there is there around having in your possession coins that were minted after the point where someone could legally own them? To me, this is a case where you would need proof that the government said it was ok to own them. Every single day people are arrested for possessing stolen merchandise. In many cases there is no physical proof the items were stolen, aside from the owner saying they were robbed. The robber usually says "he gave it to me". Even if ultimately there isn't enough evidence to press charges, the person gets their stolen item back.

There are a few 1964 Peace dollars in private hands also. These have been illegal to possess.

When the Swift family notified the government about the existence of the coins they made their first big mistake. I wonder if they talked to a good lawyer first? Maybe they should have put them in a Swiss bank vault first and then done their research? I feel for the family because they did have the coins for 80 years and what will the government do with them? The family was honest and look what they got. That is like being pulled over for a traffic violation by the police and informing them you have a concealed weapon and a permit and you get shot for your troubles. If the Swift family had never informed the government of the existence of the coins the value would be irrelevant since they would officially not exist. But could they have been sold overseas or anywhere outside the US? I think the coins should be sold at auction and the family get some portion of the proceeds IMO. This is splitting the baby, but that is more just than the USA just keeping the coins they never knew about in the first place.

If I may voice my opinion, the Switt family and by extension the Langford family were never honest about the coins. Israel Switt repeatedly denied to federal investigators that he had, or had had, or knew of any 1933 double eagles but in the ongoing investigations in the 1940's and 50's, all the known coins were linked back to him as the original source. The heirs claim they found these coins in a safe deposit box but the box had been opened by the Langford's years after Israel died. No reasonable person can believe they had a pouch with 10 $20 gold pieces in it and didn't know they had put it in the box. I believe, my opinion, that they felt they could strike a deal with the feds and get at least some of the coins legalized as a result of the favorable King Farouk specimen ruling. At $7mil apiece they took their chances.
For anyone interested in further research, may I suggest the book "Illegal Tender" by David Tripp. Well researched, well documented and really interesting.

maybe someone in the government is a coin collector and really wanted one of these badly for himself. Imo these coins only exist because of the safe keeping of the owner for so many years and if they have to forget them because of the court ruling.( which seems highly unfair. ) they should be ordered by the courts to be melted as by law they were originally suppose to be , before being returned as a lump of gold to the government.

Put em in the Smitty along with a story of the robbery and eventual recovery.

That would work !