How well I know was a 10 year old coin collector who had a old b&r catalog from 1979 where it was for sale for 150k no was talking I'd trade it for a nice clean xf example
As usual not I why is most of the great coin stuff on the west coast or in Texas or Florida three of the farthest away places for me and I know too well how far away Texas is from Maine my ex lived there and I spent a lot of time driving back and forth unfortunately I wasn't in a position to be doing coins either she required 110% of my time
Ohhh, ouch. My bad 40 years, nice catch. I do believe my point still stands, 40 years with one coin discovered=pretty bad odds for hundreds of brass 1974-d cents.
Yes. They stole the coins, but didn't intend to steal them. Investigation of Congressmen over. Anybody else get's charged with theft of Government property and pursuit by investigators with unlimited resources. Of course, they were too busy investigating the President around this time because HE was a thief in pursuit of a Government leak (Pentagon Papers - Daniel Elsberg's psychiatrist). HYPOCRISY at it's Washington DC finest.
It's history too big surprise politicians stealing... It's so cold here lately that the politicians have their hands in their own pockets!!
It's a necessary requirement to understand how the greatest rarities get on the market. Congressmen and employees of the Mint (primarily at the top) help themselves to the future rarities and either keep them or sell them to unscrupulous dealers. Many were made specifically to meet collector demand well after the supposed date of mintage. I have little doubt a 1964 Peace Dollar will appear at some point in the future.
Collector Says Uncle Sam Has no Right to His Rare 1974 Aluminum Penny http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/03/18/66239.htm
Any action taken to recover unauthorized coins should be fought using the equal protection clause since King Farouk (I Think) was able to get his unauthorized coin (1933 Double Eagle) authorized. Any differing treatment by the US would involve an equal protection action. What is good for the King is good for the citizen. Simply pay the mint a cent for authorization.