Sorry for the lousy photos. All I had was my cell phone and tried to capture through a large glass box. Tried without flash but those were worse. I wanted to try for better shots but I didn't want to hold up the crowd waiting to see them also. Forgot to go back later. They were on display at the 2018 National Money Show in Irving, Texas. Met some nice people today and even my wife had fun.
Nice! Tell me again why the U.S. government doesn't make a fuss over these two when they confiscated the 1933 St. Gaudens?
The first 1804s were legitimately made by the mint. All of the 1913s are spurious and should be confiscated. I talked to John J. Pittman about these types of coins, and he wouldn't collect them, because he said they weren't "real coins."
The class I's yes, but the piece pictured in the photo is a class III, they were re-strikes clandestinely made and left the mint unofficially through backdoor channels.
The government has been actively confiscating 1933 double eagles for decades whenever they have come to its attention. The Langbord coins are only the most recent action. It has been aware of 1913 liberty head nickels for a long time as well as earlier unauthorized coins coming from the mint, but has taken no action. There is a legal principle that if the government is aware of potentially confiscatable property for a long time and takes no action, then there comes a point where it's no longer entitled to confiscate it. "Long time" is subject to judicial interpretation, but I imagine half century easily qualifies. The government has been aware of the 1913 nickels for longer than that. "Action" is also subject to judicial interpretation. Even a simple statement by the government like "those coins are ours" might suffice. I'm not aware that even that much has been done. So by its inaction, the government has given tacit approval to private ownership of the 1913 nickels as well as patterns in the Judd book at least through 1942. Doesn't mean some Treasury Dept. official won't try to confiscate them, but chances are the private owners would prevail in court. Cal
Should the 1894-S Barber Dimes, which are unofficial mint issues, be confiscated as well? Should the 1880 $4 gold Stellas, which are unofficial mint issues, be confiscated? Should every pattern coin ever made be confiscated? It was such a long time ago. We should all just get over it.
