Posted on 03/04/2014 11:01:21 AM PST by GrandJediMasterYoda
$10M Gold Coin Hoard Found in Yard May Have Been Stolen From Mint
A California couple who found a stash of buried gold coins valued at $10 million may not be so lucky after all. The coins may have been stolen from the US Mint in 1900 and thus be the property of the government, according to a published report.
The San Francisco Chronicle's website reported that a search of the Haithi Trust Digital Library provided by Northern California fishing guide Jack Trout, who is also a historian and collector of rare coins, turned up the news of the theft.
The California couple, who have not been identified, spotted the edge of an old can on a path they had hiked many times before several months ago. Poking at the can was the first step in uncovering a buried treasure of rare coins estimated to be worth $10 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
The problem arises when you get the coins appraised (unless you happen to be an expert and then can value them yourself). Once a dealer knows the value of your coins, it doesn't matter if you tell anyone or not - the cat is out of the bag.
The government got those coins and I guess they will get these also.
Bump that!
If they’d advised the authorities of the one found can, you can bet those authorities would search every inch of their property, and their neighbors’ properties, in search of more gold.
Should have melted it down
Don’t forget the tax aspect. The gummint might take the whole amount but the couple did find it. So I predict the IRS will go after them for taxes on $10M.
They are reporting the coins are in minted order! What are the chances
that they are NOT the stolen coins! VERY STUPID COUPLE,! Should have kept their mouths SHUT!!!
Justify it any way you will, you are still a thief.
Couldn't resist their 15 minutes of fame...
The face value is supposedly $27k, which would mean the stash weighs 1350 troy ounces. Which would make the bullion value today $1,807,056.
Unless I dropped a decimal or something.
“Shoot, shovel, and shut up” is a phrase that comes to mind here. Different circumstance, same principle.
I would claim income equality!!!
$27k is the face value of the minted coins. An ounce of gold was worth $20 then. That has changed.
Unfortunately, only one country left in the world where you can outright buy a citizenship...St. Kitts & Nevis.... $250K
Isn’t it up to the gubmint to prove that they are stolen with identifiable lists and numbers and all the other stuff the IRS would require of a private citizen?
How is that possible?
I would not also be surprised if California laid claim to it. In my state, “historic properties” are deemed to be natural resources that belong to the State.
The gold coins are theirs to keep, because the statute of limitations expired and made the gold coins the property of whoever possesses them.
You can steal gold bars from the U.S. Government at Fort Knox and get to keep them, so long as you remain in and subject to the jurisdiction of the courts until the statute of limitations has expired.
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