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One of the most rare and well-known coins in all of U.S. history is the 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle — a $20 gold coin that, by several accounts, shouldn’t even be in existence.
It is the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, designed by a famed sculptor at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. It should never have been minted. And, for decades, the U.S. government has fought to keep a surviving few out of private hands. Source
In the 1930s, during the depression, a law was passed that made it illegal to own gold coins due to many people hoarding a lot of valuable gold pieces.
However, when the law was passed, the U.S. Mint had already minted over 400,000 1933 Double Eagles. So, with the new law in place, the coins never left the Mint and were later ordered to be melted down.
Here is where the tale gets juicy!…
Stolen Double Eagles
Some years later it was discovered that when the coins were to be melted down, the Mint’s chief cashier stole around 20 of the coins.
It’s believed that he got away with it by snatching the coins from a U.S. Mint bag and replacing them with earlier dated Double Eagles, so that the weight and currency count would check out.
Nine or 10 of the coins ended up in the hands of a jeweler named Israel Switt, who then sold them to individuals.
One of the more famed of these Double Eagle gold coins is the one that was eventually sold to the King of Egypt. He was a rare coin collector, among other things.
Once the discovery was made of the stolen coins, they were tracked down and confiscated by the U.S. government. Two of them were given as legal specimens to the Smithsonian Museum. However, the one that ended up in Egypt couldn’t be recovered so easily.
The One That Got Away
The King had used every legal means to purchase the coin, and he even secured an export license for it. So even though the coin was stolen property from the U.S. Mint, the government hadn’t discovered the theft yet and, in fact, approved the export and legal ownership of the coin to the King of Egypt.
Some time later when the King was overthrown in Egypt, his belongings were to be auctioned off and the U.S tried to seize the opportunity to regain possession of that elusive Double Eagle gold coin. The U.S. had discussions with Egypt explaining the mishap regarding the stolen coin and asking for the coin to be returned to the U.S.
Before any decision could be made, the coin vanished once again — not to be seen for another 45 years in 1996.
The coin had found its way to the U.S once again.
It was now in the hands of a British dealer, Steven Fenton, who intended to sell the Double Eagle to an American collector. The government was tipped off about the deal and raided the hotel room where the deal was being made. The coin was confiscated and the British dealer was taken to jail. He ended up suing the federal government in a long, drawn out legal battle for ownership of the coin.
In the meantime, that Double Eagle gold coin had yet another close call.
Another Narrow Escape
While its ownership was being debated, the coin was stored in a vault located in the World Trade Center where it was thought to be safe.
It was there for many years during the legal battles. The coin was moved to Fort Knox only a few short weeks before September 11, 2001.
It was ordered that the coin be auctioned off and the money to be split between Fenton and the U.S. Mint. The coin sold at action for a total cost of over $7.5 million to an anonymous bidder.
10 More 1933 Double Eagles Found
This would be an end to the story, but in 2005 another big discovery was made.
A woman named Joan Langbord had recently come into an inheritance which contained a coin collection — some of which was sent off to the U.S. Mint for authentication.
The Mint was shocked to discover another 10 legit 1933 Double Eagles!
Ms. Langbord the daughter of the late Israel Switt, the jeweler who initially had the first 10 coins. The U.S. government ordered these 10 coins to also be confiscated. Langbord has since filed a lawsuit.
This tale is yet to have a final ending, but it is by far one of the most interesting coin stories ever told, wouldn’t you agree?
I have been collecting and trading coins for years. Coin collecting is a hobby for me, and I’ve done a lot of research about coins through the years.
Does a 1987 silver morgan dollar commemorative exist.
Ernest,
No such piece was ever officially made by the United States Mint, so if you have a coin that’s dated from 1987 and looks like a Morgan dollar, it’s a private token, medal, or novelty coin that likely would be valued close to whatever it’s metal bullion value is.
I have been collecting coins too! I have two very young stepsons who love to look at their father’s collection ;). Needless to say, my collection is much larger than their father’s and much more satisfying to look at and examine. My wife loves it too. She can’t get enough of it, but hey! what can I say? I usually protect my collection in small plastic pouches so that none of the contents leak, or escape. I would hate for any of my collection to be lost like this precious 1933 gold coin in my wife or kids. Hands.
my grandfather has a $20 gold coin from 1900 mounted in a necklace. are $20 gold coins from that time rare? what could the coin be wotrh?
Carol,
1900 $20 double eagles aren’t particularly rare, but due to the value of gold, it’s worth around $1,200-$1,400, if not more.
are all $20 gold pieces from 1900 double eagles?
Yes, Carol, they are. A double eagle is just the term used to express the $20 denomination of gold coins minted in the United States during that era.
I have a 1933 $20 gold coin how much is it worth
Hi, mommy –
May we see a picture of your coin? You can post it here on the comments forum. Thanks!
Here it is
Hi, mommy –
Thanks for sharing that picture. It looks like a brass replica that was struck with a proof finish. These types of pieces are usually worth a few dollars to coin collectors interested in such novelty pieces.
It’s gold not brass my husband had it tested a few years ago but thanks
Subject: [coins] Re: One Of The Rarest Coins In The World: The 1933 Gold Double Eagle
That’s good that you’ve had it tested; several replicas of the 7-million-dollar 1933 double eagle have been made from brass and are regularly sold for anywhere from $5 to $20.
Hi josh I posted the picture please tell me what u think
“The coin was moved to Fort Knox only a few short weeks before September 11, 2001″…It’s so obvious…
A true (and fortunate) coincidence in every sense of the word that the 1933 double eagle happened to be relocated before the catastrophic terrorist attack on the World Trade Center; the gold coin was moved to Fort Knox in July 2001 only because of a court settlement regarding the coin. Many other priceless, irreplaceable pieces of art were sadly lost in the WTC attacks.
I really find this story interesting. 🙂 But it’s stupid to make them illegal now. That was in the past. Why confiscate them? If I had one, I’d stash it away. Wouldn’t you do the same? Crazy but interesting story.
Thank you for your comments, Harley. If one came down to me from some estate or trust, I definitely wouldn’t hide it; that places an enormous legal burden on myself and my descendants. Rather, I’d seek to establish legal ownership if I could. However, if the Secret Service said I needed to turn it in, after any appeals had been dismissed through the courts, I’d have to let it go.
Hello . I have these two $1 coins and I’ve never seen it before I got last night and I’m trying to find out a little bit about them can you tell me anything about him thank you
Hello there, David!
You have two golden-colored Sacagawea dollar coins, which were first minted in 2000 and were intended to circulate as a replacement for the dollar bill. As you would surmise, that goal never materialized and these dollar coins remain largely unseen in general day-to-day circulation. While they don’t generally turn up, they are quite common, and worn specimens are worth face value.
Here’s some more info about dollar coins:
Sacagawea Dollar Coin Values: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/sacagawea_dollars/
Why U.S. Dollar Coins Aren’t Circulating: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/dollar_coins/
Neat find!
Josh
Thank you Joshua.
You’re welcome, David!
Hello yeah there was quite a uncle gave me he retired from Fort Knox I was wonder if you could tell me what kind it is if it’s worth anything https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3308c889e4b50be6cde980065d9bf62002c8977515a5d6f351179902b2223c47.jpg Lol…
Hi, David —
I can’t blow the photo up very well. Would you please resubmit in higher resolution and also send a photo of the coin’s reverse (tail’s side)? I will need to see both sides of the coin to tell you more, especially since the Saint-Gaudens design is shared on multiple modern U.S. gold bullion coins.
Thanks!
Josh
Hello . Joshua. Ok I have a 1944 s Philippines one centavo that was minted in United States .what is the reason they were made. And were they for use in the States or for ??..Im kindda lost here . #1anonymous fan…lol
Hi, David!
The Philippines were subject to United States administration at the time, and the U.S. Mint made coins for use there. The 1944 One Centavo coin is common and in this condition worth about $1.
What a neat piece of history,
Josh
Thanks .I kinda though some thing like that. Just wasant sure. My Red Book did not have the answer. Well untill next time .Best #1
Talk to you later, David!
Wat about a silver $1 coin it’s 1901 standing liberty silver dollar
Hi, Jose —
If it’s a 1901 Morgna dollar, it’s approximately worth the following:
1901 Philadelphia (no mintmark) — $35 to $50 or more
1901 doubled die Morgan dollar — $300 to $500 or more
1901-O — $22 or more
1901-S — $25 or more
Good luck!
Josh