Saddle Ridge Gold Coin Hoard

Whatever the truth, at this point looks like the mint will not pursue the hoard. It could be that the hoard is the stolen mint loot, but the mint has weighed the likelihood of proving that and winning the case, and decided they have little chance. In such a case they may take the position that there’s no way the hoard is theirs in order to save face, so that the public doesn’t get the idea the government can be cheated/scammed.

 

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Since they have had only a week and a half to investigate, it is still early in the game. I'm not sure if any of Kagin's researchers shared information on what they have with the US authorities.

 

Specifically on the Dimmick conviction on the $30K in missing gold a couple of points I got from someone local to Auburn, CA, in gold country:

"It is interesting that the man working with the us mints Walter dimmick who was accused of stealing the gold, was Dan t. Cole who built and ran an Inn in the Gold Country at mountain house near Downieville before working at the us mint in s.f.. Per documents he seemed anxious to incriminate Walter dimmick. Dimmick lived well past his parole and never went after the loot, whereas Dan t. Cole resigned from the us mint in 1907 from ill health and died in Jan of 1909 and if he was involved would not have had much chance to reclaim the gold "if" he was the robber.

"In everything I read Dimmick denied that. The government agent made those claims. It seems as if Cole (protecting himself?) and the agent had some well thought out, tidy, and very arranged allegations against Dimmick. Framed? Right away they said Cole was a man of character, yet the government tried to make him responsible for the missing coins at one point. Dimmick out of Prison and unemployed and now an ex-con would of surely retrieved the coins when things died down within the next 20 years. Dimmick was potentially a convenient scapegoat.

"Information is slow to trickle in, but if these coins are confirmed to be from the 1901 heist from the us mint in sf, than Walter Dimmick likely should be exonerated based on his not retrieving them in his later years of freedom from san quentin. Curious as to how close this couple lived to the location of where dan t. cole's Inn was located near Mountain House area of Hwy 49. Did anyone from the sf mint own property near where the coins were found? More sleuthing to do."
http://www.auburnjournal.com/node/2...96239142650_2994385_543808552384752#f342cc2cf

 

1427 Gold coin Hoard has come with a lot of speculations of stolen stash. If a real investigation was made by a organization other than a high profile coin dealer.

Great Britain last large hoard took about 18 month of experience investigation by a organization other than coin dealer's.
Plus a lot older gold and was ancient item. And done in secret for most of the time. I am not saying that this was done wrong but Coin dealer work on percent of sale.
All I am saying that key evidence that could have told who and why was hidden could have been destroyed by rushing to auction . There a good chance that hoard was just hidden 1895-1920 not a lot of trust in banks . Or hidden around the great depression or before feds went off the gold standard. The some dates do fit a crime but the 1852-O found in it do make one think this was done to keep wealth so federal bank could not turn gold into paper . 1895 thru 1945 was not a good time in America .
I really think this was hidden and somehow forgotten .

 

Without knowing the details, the story is fascinating. In some ways more fascinating since it's a mystery. As you said jello, if only the coins could talk. Hopefully some hard facts come to light. It would be nice to at least know more about the origins of these coins (if we never get to the whole truth).

 

As far as I can see Kagin's has tried to rush the coins to auction without interest of sharing their research with the general public. The high end coin dealers are exceptionally good at keeping their secrets.

 

Yup their has been to much missing I do understand the land owner wanting name our of the press.
But money has washed away to much.
I do really wish some college or organization was the finder there is records and a lot more we would know.. Land owner still would have same outcome but slower.

 

Maybe I'm misjudging things, but it seems like Kagin is intentionally being careful in his responses (possibly holding back information). Of course he doesn't want to do anything that could jeopardize his commission (and I don't blame him). At the same time, he is not avoiding the press. He's also wanting to gain publicity (for future business) while delicately managing his current position.

 

Here is a list of the hoard inventory; I'm assuming it is correct as it is at the CU site:

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=912680

 

Here what started this threat. Just with a few more cans.

 

3/17/2014 Weekly Coin Word notes the Day found was February 13 2013. So almost a full year hidden but no real Facts Who When Why 1427 Gold coins were put in ground.
"Link my not come up unless you have Coin World online"

http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Ol...x?href=CWW/2014/03/17&pageno=46&view=document

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddle_Ridge_Hoard

 

interesting reading on the subject ...

 

Yes !!!!
Signs hint they could have known a lot longer than reported.But hex it's their land they can do what ever is legal.