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Replies: 41 / Views: 5,344 |
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Valued Member
Canada
453 Posts |
I just did some reading about the Carr fantasy coin. Most fascinating. Apparently it doesn't need to show the word "Copy", because you can't copy something that doesn't exist. Hmmmm. But it sure looks like a coin. I see that one sold for $308 on ebay in February. A can of worms, indeed!
Edited by Jerry_B 01/14/2013 11:36 pm
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
Quote: Unless I'm mistaken all coins belong to the government even after they are issued because you cannot legally melt them down. I believe you are mistaken.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote: I don't think that the government ever really sanctioned the melting down of the silver coins that occurred during the 1980's. A law was passed in the early 60's making it illegal to melt down the silver coinage of the US. This law is similar to the one we currently have that makes it illegal to melt down cents and non-silver five cent pieces. These laws were passed to keep people from hoarding and melting all the coins because of the hardship doing so would place on commerce, and the expense to the government in having to strike more coins to replace them. after the number of silver coins in circulation dropped to a vanishingly small amount the law banning the melting of silver coins was repealed in the early 70's. Such a repeal on the melting of cents will probably occur once the cent is either discontinued, or the percentage of copper cents in circulation falls low enough that the sudden removal of all the remaining ones would not have a significant effect. Currently the percentage of copper cents in circulation is between 20 and 30% so it is still too high for the law to be repealed. The ban on the melting of five cent pieces will probably remain a good deal longer. Quote: Apparently it doesn't need to show the word "Copy", because you can't copy something that doesn't exist. Hmmmm. Actually the Hobby Protection Act requires the Copy appear on any imitation numismatic item, and an imitation numismatic item is defined in the law as any item that purports or claims to be an original numismatic item but isn't. The Carr 1963 Kennedy purports or claims to be a 1963 US half dollar, but it isn't. That fits the definition of an imitation numismatic item and under the HPA is required to be marked COPY. There is also a section under the counterfieting section of Title 18 that makes it illegal to make or possess a coin or disk in the likeness or similiartude of a US coin. So maybe you can't copy something that doesn't exist, but a 1963 Kennedy half sure strikes me as being similar to a 1964 Kennedy half. VERY similar, only difference being one digit in the date. That makes them illegal under the counterfeiting laws.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36878 Posts |
The coin would end up sitting next to the 1933 Double Eagles the treasury has confiscated.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1177 Posts |
wow, I'm guessing 1933 double eagle is same story?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
Quote: If you purchase a coin (be it from either the mint or a bank) it should be yours until the cows come home.  If those Mint employees were allowed to purchase the coins and take them out of the Mint premises (before the recall order), they and their heirs should be legal owners.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
If I was An owner of such a coin and wanted to take up PCGS offer I would find an agent(lawyer) in Austria; but not because I live in Austria: Austria is a neutral country and its banking and privacy laws have always been comparable if not considerably stronger than Switzerland. I would place the coin in that agents hands ( actually in a safe deposit box in Austria and then start talking to PCGS. I would first negotiate the reward to US$10,000 plus costs and on condition they examine the coin in Austria in the agents offices. Once they had examined it and photographed it would go back in to the safe deposit box. The biggest problem would be if the coin at the outset was in the US.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3453 Posts |
DNA, I had not thought about legitimate purchases by mint employees. Does anyone know if there are cases where mint employees are allowed to obtain a coin prior to it being issued? Or is the stance of the government that a coin must be issued before mint employees can purchase one?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
On February 15, 2009, I received two William Henry Harrison-D Presidential dollars in change from a Denver Light Rail ticket dispenser. The release date for these coins was February 19, 2009.  I still have those two Harrisons set aside in a flip...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Banks were allowed to order the State Quarters two weeks before their issue date and the boxes would come in maked "Not to be released before XXX" ut some banks went ahead and release them before they were to be issued. I know I had a roll of the NC quarters almost two weeks before they were released.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
Since the Denver Light Rail ticket dispensers can re-cycle spent Dollar coins and vend them out as change, I have had a few interesting finds other than the premature Harrisons (such as a 2004-D Sac, a 1981-D SBA and a 2012-P Grover Cleveland 1st term). Quote: Or is the stance of the government that a coin must be issued before mint employees can purchase one? Read this: Denver Mint Employee Appreciation Sacagawea Dollar
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Replies: 41 / Views: 5,344 |