PNG Warns of “Dire Consequences” With Confiscation of Latest 1933 Double Eagles

Back to the Coin News Index

(Fallbrook, California) -- The legal counsel for the Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.com), a nonprofit organization composed of the many of the country’s top rare coin dealers, warns that the latest government confiscation of ten 1933 Double Eagles could lead to “dire consequences” for collectors who own other historically important numismatic items.

“Throughout its history, the U.S. has manufactured literally thousands of special or unusual coins which from a numismatic standpoint are rarities and, in some cases, one-of-a-kind items. Unauthorized coins have historically been freely and openly collected and sold without any intervention by the Government. Indeed, many of these coins are the most valued coins sold at auctions and privately today,” said PNG attorney Armen R. Vartian. “If courts uphold the latest seizure, it would put in jeopardy private ownership of virtually all pattern pieces and valuable, world-famous rare U.S. coins such as 1804 silver dollars, 1913 Liberty nickels, and 1943 bronze cents. The Government has made no effort to reclaim or recover any of the thousands of non-legal tender coins produced by the Mint. If a court now rules in favor of the Government on 1933 Double Eagles, it would provide the U.S. Justice Department and Secret Service with the legal basis to commence forfeiture proceedings against some of the most valued coins in the numismatic community, whether found in a public or private collection, or offered for sale.”

In February 2000, PNG filed a 14-page “friend-of-the-court” (amicus curiae) legal brief with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of London, England dealer, Stephen Fenton, whose 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle was confiscated in 1996. Eventually, the case was settled prior to trial, and the coin was sold at auction in July 2002 for $7.59 million with Fenton and the U.S. government sharing the proceeds.

“Unlike the Fenton case where the coin was involuntarily seized, the owners of these ten latest reported 1933 Double Eagles voluntarily sent them to the U.S. Mint for authentication and they were arbitrarily confiscated. There were no court hearings, no due process, and that could result in dire consequences for holders of many famous U.S. coins,” warned Vartian.

“What PNG said in 2000 is still true today. If the Government is successful in its arguments against private ownership of 1933 Double Eagles, it would place a cloud over all non-legal tender coins because it would permit future seizures without warning or further justification. This would have a substantial negative impact on all participants in numismatics, from individual collectors to large auction houses.”

For additional information about the Professional Numismatists Guild, contact PNG Executive Director, Robert Brueggeman, 3950 Concordia Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028. Phone: (760) 728-1300. E-mail: info@PNGdelaers.com. Web: www.PNGdealers.com.

###

For immediate release August 15, 2005

News media contacts: Armen R. Vartian, (310) 372-1355 Robert Brueggeman, (760) 728-1300