Legal?
Posted on 07/27/2002 9:52:52 AM PDT by Glenn
THE PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SOLD BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES MINT
THE 1933 DOUBLE EAGLE
Designer:
Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907)
Obverse
: LIBERTY; in lower right field, 1933 above designers monogram ASG. Liberty striding forward wearing a flowing gown and with her hair blowing in the wind. Her left foot on a rock, at the base of which lies an oak branch. In her right hand she holds a lighted torch aloft and before her; in her extended left hand she holds an olive branch. To the lower left, a small representation of the Capitol building, behind which the rays of the sun emanate. Around, 48 stars (representing the states of the Union).
Reverse:
UNITED·STATES·OF·AMERICA· / TWENTY·DOLLARS· in two lines. An Eagle flying left across rays of the rising sun.
Edge:
E*PLURIBUS*UNUM***********
Die Characteristics:
"The coin is identified by a slight doubling of the vertical bar of the E of LIBERTY on the obverse and by a die scratch in the field of the reverse, traversing the tip of the beak of the eagle.
"The coin is a genuine and unaltered product of the United States Mint at Philadelphia. It was struck from the same reverse die which produced the reference coins in the Smithsonian collection, also viewed at the same time. The obverse is consistent with those of the Smithsonian coins, including some doubling of the E. The obverse is quite likely from the very same die, as well, although the doubling is not so certain an indicator as the die scratch."
George E. Hunter, Ph. D., Assistant Director for Process Control and Quality Assurance, United States Mint. March 7, 1996
Rarity:
Effectively Unique.
This is the only 1933 Double Eagle monetized and issued by the United States Mint. It is the also the only example that will ever be authorized for private ownership by the United States Government.
The two examples preserved in the Smithsonian Institution have never been monetized and are officially considered chattel by the government. Any additional examples which may exist, are similarly property of the United States Government, illegal to own, and subject to seizure.
A Certificate of Transfer will accompany this lot, attesting to its unique status.
Condition:
Gem Brilliant Uncirculated.
Can some smart soul on here explain how the government can issue coinage and then make it illegal to own and then auction it off for several million dollars? I'm completely confused about just where the American citizen fits into the picture anymore.
The answer to your present question and any future questions regarding the Government and money are in this book.
Your not going to like the answer.
Eddie01
http://store.yahoo.com/realityzone/creature2.html
http://www.honkforhemp.com/arc95.htm
"Whenever the destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money..." - Ayn Rynd
I believe the ad mistakingly claims that these were "issued". It is my understanding that although these were minted, they were order to be destroyed and were never officially "issued" for circulation. The surviving examples are considered to be stolen government property.
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