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 Replies: 9 / Views: 12,577 |
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Valued Member
United States
397 Posts |
What is your PERSONAL opinion of the way the mint handled the 1933 gold coin matter?
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ANACS President
United States
98 Posts |
Dollar Man,
I like how they eventually handled the first one, but I don't understand the reasoning behind how they have handled the other ones. I saw them all on display at the Denver ANA--what an ugly display for such magnificent coins--and could only shake my head in disbelief.
I suspect this issue is not settled. I am interested in your thoughts.
James
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Valued Member
 United States
397 Posts |
First, Let me thank you for your time. I am of the opinion that the Switt family should at least be compensated for keeping these rare Gems for such a long time. They could have easily have melted them down for making jewelry and no one would have known the difference. From what I have read, this family had no idea that anything was not on the up and up, but either way, I believe all parties that could have been guilty of any crime are now dead anyway. I say split it like they did on the other one. I too will be watching to see what happens to these beautys. MM  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
The mint should have upheld your Constitution and challenged it in the highest courts. My belief is that the elite have this 100-200 year window in which to hoard gold and other precious metals. When the world returns to the gold standard (by economic necessity OR revolution) the elite will still have the same power over us debt-slaves. In the words of George Harrison, "Nothing's gonna change my world." This will continue to happen for as long as people remain ignornant of finance/money.
Edited by Libertad
06/11/2010 11:32 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
667 Posts |
A very interesting story. I love history so having a little twist on how the coins got out of the mint adds to the story.
Has this ever closed one way or the other?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
this has been discussed many many times on this forum and it always seems to have different opinions from different individuals but if you read about the Farouk coin you will see there are very different situations on how and why it was able to be sold and legal to own that all the others found do not have. That one coin was given a export license which gave him the right to take it out of the country which in turn transferred ownership of the coin to Farouk. All others were never legal to own nor was ever supposed to have ever left the mint since they were minted after the law had passed. My opinion is one I have stated many many times on here and still have the same opinion, they are and have always been the property of the United States and even though I would hate to see the coins destroyed I feel they are theirs to do what they wish to. Here is a link to the discussion before about the 1933 St Gaudens https://www.coincommunity.com/forum...OPIC_ID=9701and another https://www.coincommunity.com/forum...OPIC_ID=7050and another https://www.coincommunity.com/forum...TOPIC_ID=711and yet another https://www.coincommunity.com/forum...PIC_ID=53623 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I know old post and all - but...
Get the book by David Tripp - "Illegal Tender, gold, greed and the mystery of the lost 1933 Double Eagle" I'm half way through it now, fantastic read couldn't have picked a better book to take with me on the plane last week. Hope to finish it off in the next day or so. After reading half way through, I'm convinced that Ira Switt probably deserved jail time. The coins are stolen property from the US Government, the records and Secret Service investigation was very through for the time. Pretty sure he stole a complete bag of Double Eagles at one time and melted them down, both crimes at the time (stealing from the mint could have resulted in death according to the law. He got off lucky. I agree with Bryan1315 that they are still property of the US Mint/Government and are illegal to posses but hate to see these historical coins destroyed.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1333 Posts |
I reckon there are load more of these 1933 double eagles out there, just that no one else comes forward, due to legal status. This isn't based on anything, but the fact that Switt family had multiple copies.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5173 Posts |
I think that taking them away was a very bad idea (in fact my impression was that nobody actually proved that a theft had occurred), but I kind of understand why it was done, and I'm certainly happy that the coins were not melted but preserved for posterity. IIRC, the 1933 $10 piece was actually legitimately available for a few weeks before the gold purchase lockout, and the few examples now extant come from the lucky people who managed to snatch them at the time (most of them, apparently, from a single person who happened to buy several dozen). For all we know there might well have been a shorter period (several days?) when this was true for the $20 piece as well; of course, if that was true, the mint would never confess to that. Quote:
I reckon there are load more of these 1933 double eagles out there, just that no one else comes forward, due to legal status. This isn't based on anything, but the fact that Switt family had multiple copies.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Quote:
Get the book by David Tripp - "Illegal Tender, gold, greed and the mystery of the lost 1933 Double Eagle" I'm half way through it now, fantastic read couldn't have picked a better book to take with me on the plane last week. Thanks for the now five-year-old recommendation. I just ordered a copy. Ever since learning of these coins, I have been fascinated and the book sounds great.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Replies: 9 / Views: 12,577 |
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Posted 09/26/2006 10:28 pm
