1933 St Gaudens Double Eagles

I don't get it ? I understand the vitriol for the gov't, but how is it "liberty and justice" to reward the family of a man who secreted out STOLEN coins from the mint. The gov't doesn't want them back because they are illegal to own, they want them back because they were stolen from the mint. A federal judge and a jury already corroborated that.

The gov't is wasting tax payers money by pursuing this, (federal attorneys are salaried, they do not get paid by the hour or by the case. They get paid the same whether they are pursuing stolen gov't property or whether they are just sitting in their office doing nothing) but it alright to hand over $70 million dollars in taxpayer owned coins to the family of the man who stole them and that is liberty and justice?

Allegedly...

The government made only a circumstantial case that the coins were stolen by the mint employee in 1933. While it only seems logical, the coins being stored in the employee's bank under his name, that's not proof of theft. It's entirely possible the coins were allowed to leave the mint after being purchased for $200. At any rate, failure to prosecute for theft, once the theft is determined, becomes moot after a statute of limitations. 80 years is about 10 times the term allotted to do your diligence.

I hope they get to keep the coins, and sell them. The government will gain a good deal of tax monies from their sale over the next 200 years as they gain in value, starting with the first sale. A million bucks in long-term capital gains from $20 is a bunch of money. With two examples in the Smithsonian, that's all the government needs to have.

Jealousy ? Are you serious ? Our values are stratospheres apart. How you come to your conclusions is beyond me.

No planets apart actually. I happen to be coming from the I despise big government and all the things that go with it. That must really surprise you coming from a " socialist" Canadian. Oh well one of the principles of democracy is having the right to have differences and I certainly respect your opinion on this matter regarding the Double Eagles.
I would love to own one my self, just the small problem of a few mill!

Ssuperdave I would have made a very bad politician .......no party would want me ruining their cushy nests. Slightly off this issue, it is great to know that there are countries in the world where the right to differences of opinion are still acceptable and indeed welcomed.
The subject of the 1933 Double Eagle is a truly fascinating one. There is an excellent book on the subject that should be required reading for all died in the wool numismatists. It is by Alison Frankel and is the story of Steve Fenton and the legal ins and outs of the case that resulted in the sale of the Farouk Specimen. I believe the title is simply Double Eagle but I can't find the book in my current moving mess. Once people read the story they might just have a slightly different take on this case involving the Langbords legal battle. Their lawyer is the same one who represented. Fenton in his legal battles with the US Government.

Thanks!