1970 Nickel Dollar On Gold Planchet

Impossible. My theory is coins such as this were knowingly minted as a novelty item, perhaps given to mint employees, politicians or dignitaries. At the time, RCM had just completed their run of 1967 gold sets selling for $40, a pittance compared to the value of gold today. In 1967 gold was a new and exciting metal, 1914 gold coins were but a long ago page in history,

Over the years the existence began to become known through estate sales, beneficiaries, etc and the value skyrocketed. I don't for a moment believe most dealers or collectors become involved with high value "one of a kind" coins without knowledge of the original source of ownership. And I think the reason RCM has not taken an active position is because, well much like any government dept, focusing on a past era of entitlement really serves no worthwhile purpose, most of the players in the game are now certainly seniors or no longer alive. The likelihood of successful prosecution without key witnesses would be very low. The other possibly is that the statute of limitations time-clock has already gonged.

Just my opinion...

John, while I'm not a legal expert, in a court of law, timeliness is always very critical. For example once a fraudulent act becomes known, one is then obliged to immediately follow through as opposed to waiting and watching until a "preferred" victim has bought the goods at fair market value.

Failure to take action is equivalent to condoning it. Court orders are definitely not open-ended for unlimited periods of time. Especially that several of these coins are freely advertised in the marketplace, they're clearly not back-alley dealings. That an innocent buyer would suddenly be jumped upon by an RCM ordered seizure, while neglecting to serve forfeiture notice upon the dealers...that'd be a greater scandalous bungle than even the story of their creation!

The court order has no time limit, due to the results of the two rogue RCM employees trial and their guilty pleas these coins are subject to seizure, the unit taken was at a US auction, cooperation between two government police forces, t Now if the RCM choose to enforce the order when one of these coins shows up for sale is a risk you take on owning this unit. There is no doubt with this coin and the 69 gold 25 cents it shouldn't have been created, but it's a shame on the RCM of how it left the mint that is more important. Some collectors does not know the risk in owning this coin, as example the 67 double struck coins, the RCM took on the wrong dealer lost the court ruling and had to return the seized coins and they became legal to own. The Manitoba gold piece offered at 2013 Torex under the table was eventually sold, so someone was willing to accept the risk

Look at the Heritage auction link I posted. You can see the younger effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the hooves of the horse on the reverse - that is an English sovereign under that 1969 25c strike.

Well since you mention it.....I recall it mentioned that RCM had production issues after silver coinage was discontinued in 1967. For example it's known a portion of 1968 dime were minted at the Philadelphia mint because the reeding on the edge is different. The general timing may mean nothing but it just happens to be in somewhat the same era.

What's not known is how often this type of outsourcing occurred or what other mints might have engaged in "mint sport" knowing the risk was less if their home currency wasn't involved.

As stated earlier, the Mint has no desire to chase down any of these coins from the past. Court orders or not.
Only would a recent or current scandal cause the Mint to step up to the plate.
The RCM is about making money and not wasting it on the retrieval of a coin or two.
Just too much time and resources wasted for the return.
Someone mentioned earlier about the Mint chasing down those who make and sell fraudulent/counterfeit coins... I hope this story puts things in perspective.
The gentlemen who invented the illusion of sawing a lady in half had a million dollar idea so many years ago. People were paying plenty of money to watch as he performed his illusion night after night. He was on his way to easy street.
Eventually he decided to patent his illusion. Once he obtained his Patent, he spent the rest of his life in courts trying to sue thousands of individuals for Patent infringements rather then do what he did best, saw women in half.
Instead of enjoying profits from his illusion act he wound up penny less and miserable and over a million dollars in debt.

1970 Gold Dollar for sale on ebay:
401137586822

The dealer is smart, being on consignment, with it's history still a cool coin to have in hand.