Langbord family loses appeal to regain ownership of 1933 double eagles

[Paul]

hugeeyes LINK

[mhonzell]

What is interesting is that the US Mint kept exact details of each coin. In the accounting of the 500 coins sent to the Cashier, 29 were destroyed for purity testing, 2 were sent to the Smithsonian. That leaves 469 to send back to the vault for later melting. It is this detailed account which won the trial over the 10 found in 2003.

So, how is it that King Farouk (Egypt) had one legally, if they were all accounted for? (The records did not indicate one was sent out to the public.)

20 of these were stolen. At least 10 were sold, of which 9 were recovered and destroyed. With the Langbord 10, 19 have now been recovered.

So, exactly how is it this "last" one is legal?
King Farouk bought the coin and applied for an export license on the coin, which was mistakenly approved just days before the theft was discovered. The US attempted to recover the coin through diplomatic channels, but World War II prevented the return. King Farouk was deposed in 1952 and the coin disappeared until 1996. After a legal battle, the US Mint gained ownership of the "last" coin and due to the prior export license, issued documentation making this one coin "legal tender", which now made it available for public ownership. The coin sold in 2002 for $7.59 million + $20.

Just a note: It is assumed that only 20 were stolen. Some estimate as many as 40 were stolen. Which brings you back to the verdict that because the US Mint's records indicate they could account for each coin, none should be in the public's hands. I bring this up, because... there was a three week period between the Cashier receiving the coins and the law being passed to remove gold as legal tender where the Cashier could have legally distributed these coins. (None are on record as having been distributed by the Cashier.) [Let the conspiracy theories begin.]

[Daniel]

Sad, so many other coins have been "stolen" like these major errors, 1913 V Nickel just to name a couple.