Another 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle Found (allegedly)

[DC Dawg]

The following is from this article from the Moscow News:

 

[font:Book Antiqua]Rare U.S. Coin Found in Egypt[/font]

2/08/08

 

[font:Times New Roman]CAIRO (RIA Novosti) - A rare U.S. double eagle gold coin that could be worth up to $15 million has been found by an Egyptian couple as they cleaned out their flat, the Qatar Ar-Raya newspaper said on Monday.

 

The precious piece of gold was discovered in an old box that had once belonged to Mohammed Ismail's grandfather while he and his wife, Fatima, were throwing old clothes and broken furniture out of a closet.

 

Mohammed subsequently sent the coin to experts, hoping that he would get a few dollars for it. However, the tailor was shocked when the experts told him that his grandfather had left him a unique coin of historical value.

 

Double eagle coins were first minted in 1850 and were used to settle accounts between banks and other financial institutions.

 

Specialists believe that the double eagle found in Egypt could be part of Theodore Roosevelt's 1933 collection of coins redesigned by famed American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and given to King Farouk of Egypt as a present. [/font]

 

If this is true, it would be a hellova find!

 

I thought that it was determined that the 1933 Double Eagle sold in 2002 was the Farouk coin? Also, I wonder what the Secret Service is saying about this?!

 

Scott

[jman425]

I thought they found a horde in China

[Tradedollarnut]

I thought that it was determined that the 1933 Double Eagle sold in 2002 was the Farouk coin?

 

That was the story presented, although rumor among dealers was that those who had seen the actual Farouk coin said they were not the same.

[MunkyMan95]

Post ATS

 

The consensus ATS that the facts either are completely incorrect, or it is indeed an utter fabrication.

[MarkFeld]

The story, which is probably at least partly bogus, doesn't actually state that the alleged discovery coin is another 1933 Saint. Perhaps it's a unique pattern coin.

[DC Dawg]

When I read the article, I knew there were some factual errors or a confusion on the part of the writer--such as being Teddy Roosevelt's coin, which I thought was a misinterpretation on the history of the series.

 

There is also the issue of credibility, since the article came from Russia that reported a newspaper from Qatar about a coin found in Egypt. Both Russia and Qatar have no reason to cooperate with the United States and could even profit from a story, real or not. Thus, I do not think that the analysis of the story itself from ATS is enough to say this is a hoax.

 

The foreign reporting could be the finder trying to protect themselves. Egypt has helped the US during the Farouk auction. In addition to Egypt receiving aid from the US, Egypt is counting on the law the US passed to "protect" Iraqi antiquities from being pilfered from unguarded museums. Since the law is written in a way that would allow it to to extend beyond Iraq, Egypt is hoping to use it to negotiate with the US to have some of its antiquities returned. I think Egypt would probably be very cooperative with the United States--which would not bode well for the finders, if the coin is genuine.

 

Whomever has it, I hope they do not send the coin to the Mint for authentication, like the Swit/Langboard family!!

 

Scott

[jgrinz]

Oh REALLYyyyyyy Send it over and let us take a Look .... :insane:

[BillJones]

Theodore Roosevelt's 1933 collection of coins redesigned by famed American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and given to King Farouk of Egypt as a present.

 

Theodore Roosevelt died in 1920. I guess this 1933 double eagle came from beyond the grave.