# I inherit a 400 oz bar of Swastika stamped Nazi Gold from WWII - Can I sell it on ebay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749 "2015-11-16T23:09:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/21 "2015-11-17T19:43:48Z")
> [@kimberlyxx](#): > > wf tomba thats why im thinking the poster may get arrested. > Im sure i read the people who found the nazi gold train got arested or maybe im imagining it im not sure. There is no evidence it was a gold train though. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/22 "2015-11-17T22:52:41Z")
> [@astro](#): > > If I really had a 400 oz bar of WWII gold I would not be posting it here. But Astro, surely you trust us? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/23 "2015-11-17T23:28:52Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > You could melt it down and have it made into fillings. You are so going to hell for that. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/24 "2015-11-18T01:18:44Z")
Sell it and donate the proceeds to any of the various Holocaust charities, if they’d have it. I’m not keeping that money, though. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/25 "2015-11-18T03:37:38Z")
I’d go through Sotheby’s rather than eBay for something like that I think. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Lebodnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/fbc32d/32.png) [@Mr.Lebodnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Lebodnik)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/26 "2015-11-18T04:36:38Z")
Take it to the guys at “Pawn Stars”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/27 "2015-11-18T05:56:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Get it carbon-dated. That’s better than my plan. I was going to cut it in half and count the rings. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/28 "2015-11-18T13:20:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > That’s better than my plan. I was going to cut it in half and count the rings. You could show it to your [golf buddy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-D2k4P_mGM#t=1m10s). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/29 "2015-11-19T00:22:12Z")
> [@Mr.Lebodnik](#): > > Take it to the guys at “Pawn Stars”. Looks real- I can probably give you fifty bucks for it, but before I make you that offer, lemme call my buddy- he’s a Nazi. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/30 "2015-11-19T00:39:39Z")
> [@Mr.Lebodnik](#): > > Take it to the guys at “Pawn Stars”. Or run it past the Antique Road Show. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/31 "2015-11-20T00:22:16Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > Sell it and donate the proceeds to any of the various Holocaust charities, if they’d have it. I’m not too sure they would take $400,000. Who would? > [@](#): > > I’m not keeping that money, though. Same here. I’m spending it. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/32 "2015-11-20T01:50:56Z")
> [@Mr.Lebodnik](#): > > Take it to the guys at “Pawn Stars”. Actually their policy is to stay away from almost anything Nazi related; especially anything with political overtones. If you follow the show, they have turned down (not made any offer) various picture albums and a lot of other things related to the Third Reich. Their only weakness seems to be some of the electronics. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/33 "2015-11-20T02:50:05Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I was viewing [this fascinating wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_gold)on a huge Nazi gold cache discovered at the end of WWII and I wondered what would happen if I somehow came into possession of a 400 troy oz bar of gold with a Nazi stamp on it. If I put it on eBay could I sell it the same way people sell regular old gold bars? Would it have a premium value because of it’s history? I was selling some American WWII stuff on eBay for a friend, and I’ve received a message from a guy who wants me to contact him privately via email if I ever come across any swastika items. Just so you know. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/34 "2015-11-20T15:25:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There might also be legal issue over ownership. A lot of Nazi gold was illegal loot and the real owners have been filing claims for their stolen property since the war ended. Even assuming that a specific gold bar was made using stolen gold, how could the link be established? Once melted, there’s no way to know where the gold was originally coming from. If the bar was stolen, it would probably be the property of Germany. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/35 "2015-11-20T17:36:10Z")
> [@WF\_Tomba](#): > > Does the likelihood that the Nazis obtained the gold illegally affect the legality of selling it? The Nazis didn’t obtain the gold illegally. During the 3rd Reich, it was perfectly legal for the Nazi government to _confiscate_ gold in the form of bullion, coins, jewelry, dental fillings, and fancy dinnerware from Jews in Germany and other occupied countries. And I don’t doubt that there are those who will pay more for Nazi gold “confiscated” from murdered Jews than for gold that was collected in the more traditional ways (panning or mining). I think it’s the panache or something. As for the morality? It’s the seller’s and buyer’s conscience, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/36 "2015-11-21T21:06:23Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The Nazis didn’t obtain the gold illegally. During the 3rd Reich, it was perfectly legal for the Nazi government to _confiscate_ gold in the form of bullion, coins, jewelry, dental fillings, and fancy dinnerware from Jews in Germany and other occupied countries. And I don’t doubt that there are those who will pay more for Nazi gold “confiscated” from murdered Jews than for gold that was collected in the more traditional ways (panning or mining). I think it’s the panache or something. > > As for the morality? It’s the seller’s and buyer’s conscience, not mine. Sure, it was legal under Nazi laws, but so was gassing millions of people. A swastika-emblazoned trinket like a dinner plate or lapel pin is one thing, but the phrase ‘Nazi gold’ itself is practically a synonym for heinously stolen war booty. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/37 "2015-11-22T02:32:12Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Are you serious? Did you really inherit 400 oz of gold. Or do you know of someone who did? Have you ever read an OP in its entirety, Charlie? “I wondered what would happen if”. Does that sound like a real situation? “I wondered what would happen if”. Read it again. “I wondered what would happen if”. > [@](#): > > But I think you must be joking or at least asking a hypothetical. Ya think? ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749/38 "2015-11-22T08:31:34Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The value of the raw gold is more than $400,000 at today’s prices. I would personally have it melted down (or melt it myself) into much smaller bars and sell it to different dealers at spot prices over time … I am not suggesting that people cheat but gold is very easy to melt and reform so that becomes a pure commodity that is virtually untraceable as long as you don’t try to unload too much of it at once. This wouldn’t really be a good idea. For the sake of argument, let’s leave out the swasticker stuff and it was just a plain old 400 oz. bar. Good problem to have! These are known as “Good delivery” bars and have to meet certain standards for weight and fineness. They don’t always weigh exactly 400 oz (Troy) but within a range. They don’t normally leave the exchange once they have been authenticated and assayed and serial numbered and all that. Once they do, nobody will touch them. At least not at their actual melt value, not until they have been authenticated and/or assayed again. If you walk into a metals buyer, coin shop etc with home-made bars he may buy them, but only at a hefty discount to the spot price. Maybe scrap gold prices, it would be a big hit. Maybe to some people it wouldn’t matter, easy come easy go. This is why the .999 pure coins are so popular, there is no assay required and they will always fetch the best prices, sometimes even over spot when demand is high. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-inherit-a-400-oz-bar-of-swastika-stamped-nazi-gold-from-wwii-can-i-sell-it-on-ebay/737749.md?page=1)