[abb]

Here are the opinions.

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/pennsylvania/paedce/2:2006cv05315/219422/181

http://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/124574p.pdf

I’ve followed the case somewhat, having read a couple of books on the Double Eagle saga.

Here’s a history of the only Eagle that has been deemed “legal.”

http://bullion.nwtmint.com/blog/gold-bullion/the-hunt-for-1933-double-eagle-gold-coins/

[Smokin' Joe]

If the coins were replaced with double eagles of an earlier mintage, they were exchanged. As for "theft", that would imply that nothing had been done to replace the value of those coins. That apparently was not the case.

If a cashier exchanges a $5 Federal Reserve Note for a $5 United States Note or Silver Certificate that came in in commerce, is that stealing? I am asking this because I have worked places where these notes have come in in trade--as well as the odd silver quarter, dime, or wheat backed cent. Most of those were picked up by attentive cashiers and exchanged for more modern forms of equal legal tender value. Would that be considered stealing?