To: scory
The reason that coin was allowed to exist what that the US Government issued an export license for it in 1944, which was necessary thanks to the gold confiscation by FDR. A case of the left hand not knowing what the right was doing but some clever lawyers latched on to that fact and made a case out of it. The Feds decided not to fight and settled and "issued" that one coin, a technical mint designation that made it legal. Part of the agreement of sale of that coin was that the US government would not legalize any others and seize any that came to light. Actually it's kind of gratifying to see at least on arm of the Federal Government living up to its obligations.
To: atomic_dog
Very interesting. I didn't know about that agreement though I remember reading that at first the mint wanted to confiscate the coin and then some deal had been struck.
It should be noted that there are other rare coins that have made their way out of the mint in questionable ways. The 1913 Liberty nickel comes to mind. Also some of the 1804 dollars. There are others but I am not able to recall them at the moment.
70 posted on
08/25/2005 10:47:01 AM PDT by
scory
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