Zion Metals has long-lasting connections with trusted gold and silver . James A. Stacks first interview with the U.S. Secret Service occurred on April 3, 1944, when Special Agent Edward Connors showed up at his Broadway office in New York. At the time of its creation, the colony's stamps were all imported from Britain. But even these matters were complicated by extraneous factors. In a miraculous twist of fate, the coin was moved from the World Trade Center just before the terrorist attacks ofSeptember 11. Guth, Ron. A printing error causes the planes to appear upside down on 100 of these 1918 airmail stamps. American Mint Offers the Highest Quality Items The Treasury, after being informed by the diplomat that the coin was a rare collectible, sought guidance from National Numismatic Collection curator Theodore Belote. Better/Rare Date $20 Liberty Gold Coins (239) $20 Saint Gaudens Gold Coins (318) Common Date $20 Saint Gaudens Coin (0) . For thousands of years, gold has been a symbol of wealth and status; today, it is considered a safe, long-term investment for everyone. The idea of a bunch of gold dealers and mostly anti-FDR collectors making out like bandits with a half-years salary on coins that they never gave their official blessing to be released probably irked them. He was not a dishonest businessman and did not consider that a reputable dealer like James Macallister would have offered him stolen goods. New York collector James A. Stack (no relation to the Stack family of Stacks) purchased a 1933 double eagle from Ira Reed. replica coins, reproduction coins, or copy coins. The Saint-Gaudens series from 1907 to 1933 is a mixed bag of quite expensive type coins, high- and low-relief versions, easy-to-find coins, difficult-to-find key dates, and some issues that. $750. A cascading series of global economic crises gave way to the Great Depression. The family then attempted to take the case to the United States Supreme Court, but the high court declined to hear the case. Federal agents thanked Berenstein for his continued cooperation and seized the coin. Being active part-time in the early 1940s and STACKS and becoming a full-time Professional Numismatist in 1947, I found that I personally knew and sometimes worked with a large number of collectors, dealers, and secret service agents you reveal and discuss in your lengthy but factual report. The Eliasberg specimen was melted down in August 1956. In his letters, the president poured forth his ideas for how Americas coinage should rival those of the ancient Greeks. Rare and unique collector's coins & bars. Barnet had previously marketed a number of late-date Saint-Gaudens gold coins, all sourced from Switt, in The Numismatist, then the publication of record for the coin collecting hobby. Looking for gold and silver coins? Stack, clearly understanding the spate of seizures that had just taken place, tried to play coy about his involvement in the matter, but ultimately relented and surrendered the coin under protest and under legal duress on June 20, 1945. I have no doubt that both coins were real. The famous collecting duo of Raymond Henry Norweb and his wife Emery May Norweb posted the winning bid for the revised 16-piece lot, paying 2,800 ($8,467) for the run, or $81,462 in 2020 dollars. Days after it had left the country, Acting Mint Director Leland Howard conferred with Secret Service Chief Frank Wilson on the matter and relayed to him the fact that 1933 double eagles had never been officially released into circulation and should not have been cleared for export as they were likely stolen government property. Although Roosevelt had hoped that the sculptor would reenvision the entirety of American coinage, only two designs were finished and put into production, and both required adjustments before they were suitable for commercial coinage. How well your old Walking Liberty half dollar has survived, noted by the amount of wear reducing its surfaces, determines if it is valued as a collectible or by silver content. Silvery-white platinum metal resembles white gold or silver in appearance. This turned out not to be the case, although Williams did buy one. In April 1937, readers of Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine would get their chance to dream about owning the rarest and most consequential U.S. gold coin struck in the 20th century as Philadelphia jeweler Israel Switt would thrust himself into the annals of numismatic history. And while you're here, feel free to take a closer look at our other gold coins, as well as our assortment of full-color baseballs, pocket knives, die-cast models, and more. By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek .. As Saint-Gaudens health continued to decline, assistant Henry Hering worked to keep the project on track. If an order came down like in 1933 to turn Gold/Silver over to the FEDS, I will never turn these in, NEVER!!! In the presence of Secret Service Agent Ralph Oates, with whom he cooperated, Mehl reached Bell by phone on April 4, 1944, to inquire about the whereabouts of the omitted and now apparently illicit gold coin. Coin Collecting Accessories For price indications, refer to our Daily Quotes Price Page. Draped in a long, flowing classical gown, her hair is swept to the left. Augustus Saint-Gaudens(1848-1907) was a European-educated American sculptor, notable for numerous public monuments and other works in theBeaux-Artsstyle. A year later, the single surviving 1933 Gold Double Eagle was sold at auction for an astonishing 7.59 million dollars, making it the most expensive gold coin in history. At the time, a loaf of bread could be bought for 12 cents and motion pictures could be seen at theaters called nickelodeons because you could get a ticket to watch a double feature for a nickel. Illegal Tender author David Tripp served as a key witness and the Mints legal team presented a trove of historical documents, all meticulously cataloged and ordered by Tripp during the year-long sabbatical he took in 2002 from his position at Sothebys to write his book. The American Mint Preferred Collectors Price is guaranteed for you. Stacks publicity for the sale of the Flanagan 1933 double eagle piqued the interest of New York Herald Tribune coin and stamp columnist Ernest A. Kehr. He had developed a serious condition that doctors would reveal to his wife to be a form of rectal cancer. The resulting masterpiece featured Lady Liberty striding toward theviewer into the dawn of a new day and has long been considered the most beautiful coin ever created. Alexanders 2002 article in The Numismatist, which preceded Tripps Illegal Tender by two years, was likely the most complete accounting of each coin that had been published to that point, relying on news reports and information available within the industry. Berenstein confirmed that this was true and told authorities that he bought the coin from James G. Macallister. Gold Coins Ultimately, the government lied to the Langbords (about returning the coins), went judge-shopping for an incompetent pro-fed courtroom, and had the rules of evidence stacked in their favor. It would turn out that these were unsold lots from the Sothebys 1954 sale. Tripp says that Barnet inquired about the coin, getting in touch with Macallister, but Barnet thought the price of $800 was unjustifiably high. After leaving Stacks on March 24, 1944, Secret Service Special Agents Harry Strang and James Haley traveled to Max Berensteins jewelry shop located at 435 Madison Ave. Morton and Joseph Stack had just turned over the star of their March 24, 1944 auction and provided the agents information about the whereabouts of other 1933 double eagles. On September 21, 2004, Berke met with Mint representatives at the familys bank box in Philadelphia. He would not be the only collector to have heard this story but it was not true. This was the first example that brothers Morton and Joseph had handled and it would be the first of the 1933 double eagles seized by the federal government. If you prefer to pay for your coins over time, you can make interest-free installment payments if you spend more than $100. (7) The Mint and Treasury only cared about these coins when the market value in the 1940s was 40-50x the face value, or ovr $1,000 a coin. Whether this was the same coin alleged by Liedman to have the Naftzger-Browning pedigree we cannot say. Trotter sold the coin to local collector L.G. One missing coin ended up in the collection of Egypt's King Farouk, but political considerations kept agents from confiscating it. A main government and/or reserve bank backs the pureness and also . Fenton and Parrino were charged, but their cases were dismissed. You can purchase our 1933 gold coin copy right now at a deeply discounted online price. Barnard had no intention to surrender his coin and sought to retain it through a filing in federal court. (5) Mint documents reviewed by Tripp indicate that six of the 20 coins reserved for Mint assay were tested by Assayer Quirk and reported as 5/28 satisfactory on March 29, 1933. Inside were the 10 1933 double eagles individually stored in envelopes that look like they could have come from the Mint. Much credit is due to numismatists David Tripp and David T. Alexander for their work on the subject in the early 2000s. One missing coin ended up in the collection of Egypt's King Farouk, but political considerations kept agents from confiscating it. 1849 & 1933, National Collector's MINT 3 Coin Set Gold Plated .999 Silver 1907 1933 Copy, 1933 GOLD Double Eagle Lady Liberty Proof Gold Coin Total Of 2 Coins, 1933 Gold Plated Liberty Double Eagle Copy #HU1129 by National Collector's Mint. After weeks of haggling, Parrino pushed the number up to $1.5 million. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2004. After hearing the agents version of events, Boyd was not convinced that the coin he owned was stolen property. We have not pinpointed the exact date of the Switt or Stack transactions, but presume that they occurred after 1937. ", "I started coin collecting to pass the time in a full leg cast at the age of 12, and later became interested in stamps when my older brother left behind the stamp book he'd started when he went to college. But to me, it is a fabulous part of my memory and realizing how much each of the earlier owners wanted to own a 1933 so to have the most complete collection of Double Eagles of their own. If you're not pleased with an item you receive, you may return it within 90 days for a full refund of the purchase price. Of course, you don't have to be a dedicated collector to enjoy the variety of Are coins not your thing? Ted was a big deal in early copper circles and had impeccable taste in coins. The Swift surrender for further examination of the 10 pieces they found in their family vault in Baltimore, led to further legal battles and I believe all still exist or will be placed on display at different times by the U.S. Mint. On March 6, Roosevelt signed Proclamation 2039, which forbade payment in gold, the hoarding of, and the exportation of gold coin or bullion. Good !! Outstanding article, and my compliments to Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for the best article and coin-by-coin description of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles I have seen. When you go into a bank and made a deposit they give you a receipt. From Business: Capitol Coin & Stamp has been the best little political memorabilia shop in Washington, D.C. for over 50 years. Despite the removal of the 33, the lot still carried some juice. The jeweler said he hadnt, but that if he did, then he would try to acquire it. The exceptionally rare 1933 "Double Eagle" is now the most valuable coin ever to appear at auction, almost doubling the previous world record, according to Sotheby's, which organized the sale. The coins high $20 denomination precluded its daily use by most Americans. The resulting masterpiece featured Lady Liberty striding toward theviewer into the dawn of a new day and has long been considered the most beautiful coin ever created. Certification companies wouldnt authenticate the coin, major auction houses wouldnt market the coin, and few dealers would risk their livelihoods, reputation, and freedom for a chance at the same kind of commission they would get off of the sale of a legitimate rarity. He initially named Agent Strang as a defendant but amended his complaint to name the United States Government after his filing was dismissed. You'll always reach a live representative who's happy to help you. It was a real coin and it had markings not found on the two Smithsonian examples or the Farouk coin sold in 2001. How would the Farouk 1933 double eagle perform in todays market? Source: Red Book. I and many others understand what true currency is!!! Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, A faithful replica of Saint-Gaudens' gold masterpiece, Considered the most beautiful coin ever created by the U.S. Mint, A solid 14k gold replica of the coin worth $7,590,000. Buy Pre-1933 Gold Coins. The proceeds of the sale were split 50/50, with half going to Fenton and the other half going to the U.S. Mints Public Enterprise Fund. Use our secure, easy-to-navigate e-commerce site to order your beautiful 1933 gold coin copy today. The coin was one of three valuable items put up for sale by the shoe designer Stuart Weitzman. All Market Updates are provided as a third party analysis and do not necessarily reflect the explicit views of JM Bullion Inc. and should not be construed as financial advice. The cantankerous Cornish, New Hampshire sculptor got to work and, over the course of the next two years, the president and the artist stayed in constant contact with one another. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1933 WALKING LIBERTY USA / DOUBLE EAGLE GOLD-PLATED COPY $20 DOLLARS COIN at the best online prices at eBay! Charles Williams, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was an avid coin collector of some merit and the owner of the Western and Southern Insurance Company. Verdict in hand, the judge ruled that the 10 disputed 1933 double eagles had been stolen from the U.S. Mint and therefore have always been the property of the United States. If you are not satisfied with any item that is shipped to you, you may send it back within 90 days at our cost for replacement, credit or refund. Kosoff claimed that he paid Switt $600 for the coin, but that it wasnt a straight cash transaction. Currently $8.14 each your 1933 half dollar value is the minimum a heavily worn coin is worth. Also, you could report in another story, that a year or two after the Fenton case, and the new owner was given title to the Fenton specimen, the present owner, in concert with the Federal Reserve in New York, established a Numismatic Exhibit in the Old Cashier and Bond windows in the building, and highlighted on display the 1933 Double eagle, as well as other rare coins, with the help and cooperation of the American Numismatic Society, who loaned the necessary coins to complete the display. Great Article: In my view if the FED Reserve had their way ALL US Coins with Gold/Silver (Libertys, St Gaudens, Flowing Hair, Morgans, Peace Dollars) would be immediately confiscated from all Americans and melted down. Many old coins were made from precious metals like gold, copper and silver and as such they are always worth the weight of the metal contained within. Tripp eludes to a similar story in Illegal Tender but does not name names. Platinum Coins The world-renowned sculptor, venerated in his time and even more so sense, had a serious distaste for the Mints bureaucracy and an even lesser opinion of its chief engraver. American Mint's 1933 Liberty Gold Coin Copy: Is It Real Gold? While federal law enforcement opted not to prosecute McCann, Switt, and other collaborators citing the Statute of Limitations, the government maintained that the purloined coins were rightfully government property and subject to confiscation. He turned down more commissions than he could possibly accept. 43 of the 1933 Saints got mixed in, more than enough to account for Israel Switts little stash. Although each of these coins carried the standard $20 denomination, none of the coins of this issue had officially been monetized or authorized for release. Although Boyd did not hand over his coin to the U.S. Secret Service immediately after his initial Secret Service interview, he was convinced a year later that the story behind the sourcing of his example was false and so he turned over his piece to the government in the summer of 1945. In August 2004, attorney Barry Berke, reached out to the United States Mint Office of Legal Counsel to inform them that his new clients had in their possession 10 double eagles from 1933 and that he would like to discuss the matter. Moore had an ax to grind with Parrino and turned to a friend who had worked as an FBI agent. Hailing from British Guiana, now known as Guyana, it sold for $8.3 million. At this time, the Mint accounted for 480 gold double eagles in the cashiers vault and 445,500 in its Working Vault. Bell, whose real name was Jake Shapiro, was a Chicago area collector and sometimes coin dealer who had built an impressive collection of U.S. coins, including a number of rarities beyond the notorious 1933 double eagle. Find Local Ashburn Buyers & Sellers Of Silver Coins. Each one features the same weight as well as metal content with every launch year. At the top of the coin is the word LIBERTY, the torch separating the I and the B. Forty-eight tiny six-pointed stars are arrayed just inside the flat rim, forming a circle broken only at the bottom. James Bell Specimen. I have 5 of these so Pictures are showing each one I have. According to what Kosoff told the investigator, Kosoff had only handled one 1933 double eaglea coin that he purchased from Israel Switt in 1937. New York publisher F.C.C. James Bell, alias of Chicago collector-dealer Jake Shapiro, had handled more than one 1933 double eagle.