1933 double eagle Double eagle

the smithsonian specimen of 1933 saint gaudens double eagle

in 1933, president franklin d. roosevelt stopped coinage of gold , made illegal own metal (although coin collectors retain pieces). 1 exception, no 1933 double eagles ever legally released, although stolen government, , on years several recovered.

in summer of 2002, 1933 double eagle auctioned off us$7,590,020 shattered old record of $4,140,000 paid @ public auction 1804 silver dollar. piece unique 1933 double eagle u.s. government has deemed legal citizens own (having been negotiated such through terms of u.s. treaty foreign government). illegal instances of 1933 double eagle worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, illegal u.s. coin dealer broker deal 1 of these coins. there no other date of st.-gaudens double eagle worth significant fraction of extraordinary coin. complete uncirculated set of other st.-gaudens double eagles put on 3 million dollars (less half price paid 1933), including extremely rare, ultra-high relief, proof pattern. without rare pattern, set less $750,000.

in august 2005, united states mint recovered ten 1933 double eagle coins private collector had contacted united states mint ascertain authenticity. joan s. langbord claimed inherited coins father, suspect in original theft in 1933, , had found them in safe deposit box in 2003. mint announced consider saving coins display. meanwhile, langbord filed federal suit recover coins after hopes of receiving monetary compensation federal government not realized. in september 2009, federal judge ruled government had until end of month return confiscated coins langbord family, or prove had indeed been stolen. on july 20, 2011, civil-court jury awarded ownership of ten coins u.s. government on grounds coins stolen mint. however, on april 17, 2015, united states court of appeals third circuit in philadelphia overturned jury s decision , ruled ten 1933 double eagles did indeed belong joan s. langbord , must returned family u.s. mint. appeals court returned coins langbords because u.s. officials had not responded within 90-day limit family s seized-property claim. on august 1, 2016, full appeals court reversed earlier ruling , allowed government keep coins.