I don't think the Mint did this. If a Mint employee did it, then something illegal definitely occurred. Coin or nail, it was government property or the illegal use of government property.
You're singing my song when it come to the United States Mint. It's not our grandfather's Mint anymore. It's sad, but what can you do? The Mint Director should be reading some of these threads on CT to his supervisors in his 0830 morning meetings.
The Mint Director should request that the FBI and/or Secret Service investigate. With the power of subpoena it should be easy to backtrack where the nail came from.
LoL!! Hey this is the Obama Administration, remember? If they don't investigate the IRS, trust me.....the Mint is the last thing they will be investigating. Besides, the FBI has their hands full with Hillary's e-mails.
I believe this wasn't a deliberate official act of the Mint. It was either an accident (nail falling in) or deliberate (a Mint employee sticking it in). Either way, the result (the graded nail in question) belongs to the government. And taking it out of the Mint for private sale is illegal.
There are instances of nefarious dealings by the Mint back in the day as well. I think the grading of this nail is a complete joke though.
Just be careful with the Political posts. The mods don't take kindly to them. I've had posts deleted by them and they were right in doing it.
All errors need to be confiscated if you're lumping accidents in as well. The mint doesn't officially off strike coins, or strike coins on the wrong planchet ect. Everyone has a theory on how it came to exist. Some are more plausible than others, but we will never actually know. Only the person who made it would if such a person even exists. The Secret Service certainly has better way to spend their time instead of creating a years long legal battle over that piece.
Love this error. I have been told the same thing. It was generated by an employee. However, how did the coin end up in our hands. I love what you have shown. Thank you for verifying what we know is happening.