http://voice.bloomu.edu/2-15-96/nation/coin.html
It is still illegal to own the 1933 $20 gold piece.
However, I have read that there is some question as to whether this is still “legal” (that is, the proscription)
I assume that it was made illegal because the government ordered their recall.
Why was this not rescinded when gold became legal to own in the 1970s?
Anyone know the straight dope?
well the way i understood it, just from the link, was that since the coin was never issued, all the ones out there were stolen, except for the ones at the smithsonian. stolen government property
yeah, the government doesn’t want competition.
It is still illegal to own the $20 1933 gold pieces because they had not yet been released to circulation when FDR took office and froze all gold coinage. Therefore,they were never legal to own. There are rumors that some were smuggled out of the mint by certain freethinking employees,but if they were,they haven’t shown up yet,since the Secret Service will be after you if you admit to having one. $10 gold pieces were also minted in 1933,and I believe they are now legal to hold,because they HAD been released before FDR’s inauguration.I’m not positive about this,though.(Just pretty sure).
The gov’t maintains that none of the 1933 St. Gaudens double eagles were released, and therefore are considered “not legally issued” coins and are uncollectible. However, if you had a 1933 double eagle with a dated proof of purchase of over the counter sales in the first three months of 1933, well, you might have a case.
1933 $10 eagles are legal to own. The only other illegal coins (I think) are:
1913 “V” Nickel (in 1913 we switched to the “buffalo” nickel) - one of five known is still unaccounted for
The 1964 Peace Dollar, I beleive some samples made it into the hands of congressmen and didn’t make it back
Trade Dollars dated 1884 or 1885, so far as I remember they are clandestinely made proofs
Numismatically yours,
Mr. Sheepshead
I thought that a couple of samples of a proposed issue of aluminum Lincoln cents were placed in the hands of some sticky-fingered congressmen, as in the case of the 1964 Peace dollar. Has anyone ever heard of this case?
DHR
The mint coined about 1.5 million of the aluminum cents in 1974 (due to rising copper costs). As far as I know, they are legal to own (since there are 12(?) in private collections and one in the Smithsonian).
Actually I believe the Smithsonian collection also contained a 1933 $20 piece, because I remember that being the highlight of my trip to D.C… That would be horrible if my highlight turned out to be something I made up…
I have also read that the Smithsonian has a gold 1933 double eagle (I used to work for a numismatic company.)
Here is a link with pictures.
http://americanhistory.si.edu/csr/nnc/doubleea/doubleea.htm
It may yet become legal to own the 1933 $20 gold piece. http://www.coinworld.com/news/2000/032000/farouk032000.html
[sarcasm]Please[/sarcasm]
If someone stole your computer you would be mad, not because they took your property, but because they had access to the internet?