Posted on 03/18/2011 3:03:10 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Bernard von NotHaus, creator of the Liberty Dollar, was found guilty on two counts this morning in his counterfeiting trial at the federal courthouse in Statesville, N.C.
He was found guilty of making counterfeit coins and an intent to defraud. Sentencing will be held in several months.
The jury reached its decision in less than 90 minutes.
In this week's four days of defense testimony, von NotHaus maintained that his "medallion" was not legal tender. He said each piece contained the NORFED name and telephone number, but the government pointed out that the silver pieces bore a very strong resemblance to legal U.S. tender coins.
Forfeiture hearings began after the verdict was read in regard to property belonging to von NotHaus and others that was seized by the U.S. government.
This is a Trumped Charge! He must be kept on a Salt Water Taffy and Philadelphia Sub diet and may have some Planters Peanuts!
The guy wasn't trying to counterfeit or defraud anyone.
Ouch...not much way to get around that one.
Possibly for the “$20”. Your rounds only say what they’re made of and how heavy they are.
I thought these were the problem, but then I read a little more at the link.
As far as I know, they are gold and silver.
that would definitely help, lol.
I never heard anyone suggest that Liberty Dollars were worthless.
Yeah, he messed up when he put “$20” on there. I find the “chiropractic” banner a little odd too (though of course not illegal).
The face of that coin is beautiful.
Maybe some day that coin can be re-issued, with a different back of course.
How much did it weigh? Was it a one ounce coin?
I wish I had one!
They don’t use the word “dollar.”
I think the problem was the use of the word “dollar” on the coin. I have a variety of silver bullion coins from private makers that have USA themes, but none say dollar on them.
Yes, it was 1 ounce of silver. I think they were minted by Sunshine.
I assume you mean then-current rates. They have $35 worth of silver today, and can be purchased and sold at bullion stores.
Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry.
The $64,000 question is what that does to people who bought these in re: posession of 'counterfeits'?
Are they, too subject to the siezure of their assets?
On the other hand, if you want to get real nitpicky, he did use the old dollar sign with the two vertical lines, which is no longer the official symbol. Somewhere along the line it was changed to only one line.
The US Government has been doing the same thing since 1965 when the began to make coins that looked like the 1964 silver coins but were made from scrap metal. In this regard it is interesting to consider the meaning of the word counterfeit (from mw.com):
1: made in imitation of something else with intent to deceive : forged <counterfeit money>:ML/NJ
Nothing, if they scrap 'em.
But we still live in a free country, right?
Keep licking the boots of the powerful that lie, cheat, steal, and defraud you daily, FReepers.
Do what they tell you. Keep telling yourselves that anyone who contradicts the official story from the government is a “kook”.
Keep repeating “baaah, baaaaah” and you’ll be the last in line.
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