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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,408 |
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Valued Member
United States
321 Posts |
This past weekend I went to see Monuments Men. For those who don't know the plot, it's about a group of solders during WWII who embark on a quest to find art stolen by the Nazis. There are two or three references to gold/bullion in the film, but no mention of numismatic coins. This brings me to my question.
Is there any evidence of the Nazis hording numismatic coins like they did art? Or, did they just melt all stolen coins down for the bullion?
Why is this important to our hobby? Well, it would significantly reduce the mintage figures of pre-WWII coinage if there was a mass melt down. Especially that of gold and silver coins.
Any thoughts, ideas, facts, or opinions? This is not a political post.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
844 Posts |
I read "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and do not recall any mention of this. I did however discover some disturbing news regarding one of my favorite automotive icons, Henry Ford.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
You always hear stories about Jewish gold being laundered through Swiss banks. How much truth is there in that? It's interesting nonetheless and featured in movies like X-Men: First Class.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I would assume they looted gold among other things. I have no idea though.
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
without records, which germans meticulously kept, there is no way to know, try and find a german archive
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Is there any evidence of the Nazis hording numismatic coins like they did art? Or, did they just melt all stolen coins down for the bullion? The Nazis were pretty methodical about everything. Naturally, one of the first objectives of occupying any city would be to secure banks and museums of anything valuable to the 3rd Reich's war effort. On a personal note, I have been to several coin museums in Europe which were founded long before WWII, and carry large collections of gold and silver coins from prior centuries. I did not ask, but I'm guessing the museums planned ahead of the impending occupation, and managed to hide the coins before the Nazis invaded?  After all, coins are easier to hide than paintings by say, the Dutch Masters. Otherwise, I fear a lot of numismatic treasure would be lost to the furnace. An a similar note, has anyone read how a chemist "hid" some gold Nobel medals from the Third Reich in Copenhagen? It's a pretty interesting "solution".  Edited by DVCollector
02/12/2014 2:06 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
I have read where the Nazis confiscated coin collections or bullion coins from Jews who were emigrating from Germany in 1933-1940, as contraband, and sold in the commercial markets to dealers and party officials, but have not seen where numismatic coins were melted down. Jewelry and antiques in silver and gold were either sold off or melted down, especially if of Jewish heritage, which the Nazis intended to expunge.
The Nazis were venal, corrupt, and evil, but they were not stupid. They knew the value of what they stole and got the most they could for it.
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1823 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
never read those before, amazing
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
I saw the film also and thought it was excellent.
In Robert Edsel's book "The Monuments Men" (the basis for the film), he mentioned
that one of the men filled a helmet with $35,000 in US $20 gold coins that were
found in one of the salt mines.
Several large museum coin collections disappeared during World War II.
https://www.brianrxm.comThe Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin Coins in Movies Coins on Television
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
There is some supposedly hideous history behind Swiss gold coins. Appearently there's traces of mercury in them as they are supposedly melted Nazi gold extracted from prison camps. Dental fills are often made of gold with traces of mercury. http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1997/S...032b125c3721 |
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Valued Member
 United States
321 Posts |
Interesting information. Looks like they hoarded some and melted some. I can see why they would hoard $20 eagles but I'm sure they just melted common date sovereigns and francs. It all still brings into question the mintage figures of gold and silver coins of that time (and earlier). Over two World Wars, millions of coins had to have been melted/destroyed for one reason or another by all sides.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1823 Posts |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,408 |
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Posted 02/12/2014 11:14 am
