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Stealing from the Mint -- Bad Idea
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31 posts in this topic

  • Member: Seasoned Veteran

Most nations specified the death penalty for counterfeiting or stealing from the mint, but I don't know of any instance in recent centuries when this ultimate punishment was actually undertaken, at least not in the western world. It's pretty much a hollow threat.

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Just the threat of it would be enough to deter me from it. Which I wouldn't steal anyways. I'm so glad I was raised better. I see several of my neighbors and people I went to school with turned into theives and no one wants them around. I'd hate for no one to want me around like that. I've also had things stolen from me and I don't have the heart to do it to any one else. Had a brand new ATV stolen from me. No insurance. Still owed $5000 on it. Had to pay it off and never did get it back. I can't stand a theif. People out working to have something and a dead beat come steal it. 

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3 hours ago, Hoghead515 said:

Just the threat of it would be enough to deter me from it. Which I wouldn't steal anyways. I'm so glad I was raised better. I see several of my neighbors and people I went to school with turned into theives and no one wants them around. I'd hate for no one to want me around like that. I've also had things stolen from me and I don't have the heart to do it to any one else. Had a brand new ATV stolen from me. No insurance. Still owed $5000 on it. Had to pay it off and never did get it back. I can't stand a theif. People out working to have something and a dead beat come steal it. 

Yikes! That's terrible! One can hope for some sort of eventual "pay-back" for the thief...but that doesn't correct the monetary loss and the violation of your person and property.

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18 minutes ago, RWB said:

Yikes! That's terrible! One can hope for some sort of eventual "pay-back" for the thief...but that doesn't correct the monetary loss and the violation of your person and property.

There are bad people out there, whether big timers like Bernie Madoff or local scamsters. 

My mother wanted some designer living room cabinets to store nick-nacks and family portraits and stuff.....very expensive, about $7,000 to build a pair....my father gave half down to someone recommended by the builder and their new neighbors....guy took the money and never did anything, his business was basically Chapter 11 and he was milking/stealing from the last people he could.  Dad got a judgement against the guy FWIW but he never saw a single dollar back.:mad:

Thankfully, my father has a good investment manager :) who made him some nice $$$ and he ate the $3,000 loss, Mom got her new cabinets, and she never had to wonder "what if" by going with the cheap ones the builder would have installed instead.

Edited by GoldFinger1969
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18 hours ago, Hoghead515 said:

They went easy on the old boy.

You got that right.  The fellow in question got OFF rather than the NOOSE.

Edited by Alex in PA.
Spelling again and again and again!
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15 minutes ago, StrikeOutXXX said:

That's a whole lot of dollars. I'm sure several were seized and destroyed but imagine how many are still out there. They made an example out of that old boy. Wonder if he got the firing squad. 

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1 minute ago, Hoghead515 said:

That's a whole lot of dollars. I'm sure several were seized and destroyed but imagine how many are still out there. They made an example out of that old boy. Wonder if he got the firing squad. 

Nevermind. Seen in other link posted he was hung. Thank you for sharing. 

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Oops - 31 on the list (29 names, 2 unknowns).  Let's see how this formats.  Would make an interesting book researching all the death penalties for counterfeiting.  Probably a side of numismatics not very often researched.

 

Executions in the U.S. 1608-2002: The ESPY File

 

Name (Last First)

Race

Age

Sex

Crime

Method

Day

Month

Year

State

Brock Nicholas

Unk

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

 

 

1764

NY

Chamberlain Richard

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

25

11

1780

PA

Davis Thomas

White

60

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

11

10

1822

AL

Greden Alexandro

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

15

8

1783

LA

Guillermo Jones

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

15

8

1783

LA

Hunt Edward

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

19

11

1720

PA

Jackson Lowe

White

24

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

13

4

1753

VA

Jacobs John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

21

2

1777

SC

Jaeger Heinrich

White

63

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

16

7

1748

NJ

Jillett William

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

 

10

1752

NC

Jubeart John

White

68

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

6

9

1769

NY

Mcallister John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

3

6

1775

PA

Nagle Philip

Unk

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

8

7

1788

PA

Nelms Noyle

White

65

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

29

9

1816

GA

Patton Nathaniel

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

8

12

1779

PA

Repton Bernard

Unk

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

30

4

1774

PA

Reynolds David

White

30

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

17

9

1773

NJ

Roberts James

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

17

6

1780

PA

Rosikrans Herman

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

5

5

1770

PA

Shocky Christopher

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

11

12

1779

PA

Smith John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

 

 

1773

NY

Stevens John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

21

8

1744

NY

Stewart Alexander

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

3

6

1775

PA

Stewart John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

27

10

1787

GA

Sullivan Owen

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

10

5

1756

NY

Trout Henery

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

8

12

1779

PA

Ware John

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

2

4

1773

NY

Westmore Charles

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

27

10

1787

GA

Yager Hendrick

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

 

 

1772

NY

Unk

Unk

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

2

4

1773

NY

Unk

White

 

M

Counterfeiting

Hanging

2

4

1773

NY

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Wow! That's quite a list. Sounds like StrkieoutXXX has the beginnings of an interesting numismatic article!

:)

[Several defalcations are mentioned in From Mine to Mint (near the back), but no conviction resulting in execution of the guilty party. A few got away with their loot. Most were put in jail.]

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41 minutes ago, bsshog40 said:

I think that would make me think twice about dropping a coin in my pocket also. Lol 

Me to. I'd be afraid to pack my own money from home with me. Lol. Be afraid they think it was theirs. 

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They should have lined all the mint workers up and made them watch the executions and that would have probably deterred it more. That would be enough to keep an honest man honest. Would me anyways. 

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  • Member: Seasoned Veteran

All of the listings were likely state convictions, which tend to be more punitive than federal ones. I suspect that all or most were for counterfeiting state notes, which were way too easy to fake or alter.

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1 hour ago, Hoghead515 said:

If you notice there weren't any women hung.  Wonder how many were in on it with their husband's. 

Three women in this gang. The Ingersol Gang specialized in nickels - most commonly used coin in America due to railroad (transit) fares.

Pages from 18800101 Ingersol gang.jpg

Edited by RWB
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9 hours ago, StrikeOutXXX said:

 

I found most of the 31 with some Googling.  Most were currency, and given most of the dates, even the coin related ones weren't US Coinage:

 

Brock, Nicholas: 18 years old. Passed a single $1 counterfeit bill. Skeleton kept on display in Dr. Office (Article in the middle just under the flag)

 

https://gahistoricnewspapers-files.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn86053071/1854-08-01/ed-1/seq-1.pdf

 

 

 

Chamberlain, Richard: 100 Continental Dollars from Chamberlain’s press

 

http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/11/25/1780-david-dawson-ralph-morden-quakers-treason/

 

 

 

Davis, Thomas: 38 Years counterfeiting State Bank Notes between 600,000 and 1,000,000 dollars

 

https://algenweb.org/shelby/AlabamaCounterfeiters.pdf

 

 

 

Greden, Alexandro (Alexander) and Guillermo, Jones (William): Several 10, 2.5, 2 and 1 Peso notes

 

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/217386534.pdf

 

 

 

Hunt, Edward:  Counterfeiting Spanish silver coin

 

http://www.executedtoday.com/2013/11/19/1720-edward-hunt-counterfeiter-colonial-pennsylvania/

 

 

 

Jackson, Lowe: Silversmith made Spanish doubloons

 

https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/Foundation/journal/Summer07/counterfeit_sidebar.cfm

 

 

 

Jacobs, John: Issuing counterfeit money

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=N7cmoZiEmy8C&pg=PA568&lpg=PA568&dq=john+jacobs+1777+counterfeit&source=bl&ots=HQeNQABu4M&sig=ACfU3U0UYWbXJV35cXBkIzyZM3_gTlDn0w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFmqbT3Z7wAhXQmOAKHQCaC9AQ6AEwEnoECBIQAw#v=onepage&q=john%20jacobs%201777%20counterfeit&f=false

 

 

 

Jaeger, Heinrich: Made 40 Shillings, passed 15 Shillings

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan49620

 

 

 

Jillett, William: Blacksmith, made making Doubloons, Pistoles, Pieces of Eight and half Pistereens

 

https://www.executedtoday.com/tag/william-jillet/

 

 

 

Jubeart, John: Blacksmith, Die struck, milled edges pillar dollars (1763 1761)

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan85824

 

 

 

Mcallister, John: Counterfeiting the Bills of Credit of the Providence (Pennsylvania)

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=qLQUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=Mcallister+John+1775+counterfeit+PA&source=bl&ots=FpEG2azR3U&sig=ACfU3U1agsZbP27x-z8D7lc8BRlMw6UW7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJt6j8x5_wAhVmGVkFHVg7BVAQ6AEwD3oECBIQAw#v=onepage&q=Mcallister%20John%201775%20counterfeit%20PA&f=false

 

 

 

Nagle, Philip: Uttering base and counterfeited coin

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=xKo-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA476&lpg=PA476&dq=Philip+Nagle+1788+PA+hanged&source=bl&ots=VcD01UANA6&sig=ACfU3U1YZEv5U40aC6eGGWcSUQZwlSyy_Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjX67DWyZ_wAhViTd8KHZb6AgAQ6AEwBHoECAEQAw#v=onepage&q=nagle&f=false

 

 

 

Nelms, Noyle: passing counterfeit bills on the State Bank of South Caroline

 

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nelms-34

 

 

 

Patton, Nathaniel: Passing counterfeit money

 

https://cdn.website-editor.net/020d9c979f77483189db333592c7de7f/files/uploaded/Colonial%2520Records%2520of%2520Pennsylvania%2520Vol%2520XII.pdf

 

 

 

Repton, Bernard: for Counterfeiting the Bills of Credit of this Province (Pennsylvania)

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan119745

 

 

 

Reynolds, David: counterfeiting currency for the colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York

 

https://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/hampton_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm

 

 

 

Roberts, James: Passing counterfeit money and knowing it to be such

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=Rqk-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA375&lpg=PA375&dq=%22james+roberts%22+1780+counterfeit&source=bl&ots=DkhksDPIim&sig=ACfU3U0o0gJMkutW2bKY4Wr3Cdr1jIlOmw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxqdmNz5_wAhUAFFkFHdNQAWQQ6AEwBnoECAkQAw#v=onepage&q=%22james%20roberts%22%20&f=false

 

 

 

Rosikrans, Herman: Counterfeiting the $3 Paper Bills of Credit and passed 2 of them knowing to be fake

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=3xxEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA666&lpg=PA666&dq=Rosikrans,+Herman+counterfeit&source=bl&ots=8H6cH0erPo&sig=ACfU3U2gKQfdlvJUVHF_xV4Ape2_K33prA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbg4zIz5_wAhUKMVkFHT2KCV8Q6AEwAnoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=Rosikrans%2C%20Herman%20counterfeit&f=false

 

 

 

Shocky, Christopher (Shockey): Counterfeit Virginia money

 

https://www.krishocker.com/shockeys-counterfeit-currency/

 

 

 

Smith, John: Counterfeiting the currency of the province of New York

 

https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2018/04/18th-century-warning-tis-death-to-counterfeit/

 

 

 

Stevens, John: Counterfeiting paper currency of New York

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan85824

 

 

 

Stewart, Alexander (Andrew): Counterfeiting and uttering the Fifty Shilling Bills of the Province of Pennsylvana

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan119745

 

 

 

Stewart, John: ?

 

 

 

Sullivan, Owen (Syllavan): counterfeiting and passing the current bills of that colony emitted in the year 1737

 

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=evans;idno=N06140.0001.001

 

 

 

Trout, Henery (Henry): Passing counterfeit money

 

https://cdn.website-editor.net/020d9c979f77483189db333592c7de7f/files/uploaded/Colonial%20Records%20of%20Pennsylvania%20Vol%20XII.pdf

 

 

 

Ware, John ?

 

 

 

Westmore, Charles ?

 

 

 

Yager, Hendrick?

 

 

 

Unk & Unk: ISAAC JONES AND HIS GANG

 

http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan72127

 

 

I think the saddest of them all was Nicholas Brock.  18 years old, and passed a single dollar.

 

NickBrock1.JPG

NickBrock2.JPG

Thank you for putting in the research and sharing. I've been wanting to learn more about this. 

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That poor old boy there in the last articles sure got hit a hard lick. That would have probably been my first lie. It being just one dollar they should have just gave him a little jail time. I could understand if it were several or if he was making them. Old boy was awful young. 

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On 4/26/2021 at 12:08 PM, Hoghead515 said:

Just the threat of it would be enough to deter me from it. Which I wouldn't steal anyways. I'm so glad I was raised better. I see several of my neighbors and people I went to school with turned into theives and no one wants them around. I'd hate for no one to want me around like that. I've also had things stolen from me and I don't have the heart to do it to any one else. Had a brand new ATV stolen from me. No insurance. Still owed $5000 on it. Had to pay it off and never did get it back. I can't stand a theif. People out working to have something and a dead beat come steal it. 

[And generally overlooked is the fact that that $5,000 is a pittance compared to the cost borne by the tax-paying public to keep that man behind bars.]

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During those times people, and courts, took stealing, or theft, very seriously.  For example, stealing a horse and getting caught resulted in hanging.  Rarely, if ever, did a person escape the noose for crimes that impacted on the health and welfare of fellow citizens.  

 

 

OIP1190.jpg

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4 hours ago, Hoghead515 said:

That poor old boy there in the last articles sure got hit a hard lick. That would have probably been my first lie. It being just one dollar they should have just gave him a little jail time. I could understand if it were several or if he was making them. Old boy was awful young. 

The letter implies that he had been stealing on several occasions, and was being required to re-pay the Chief Coiner, Eckfeldt, for what he confessed to taking. Presumably Eckfeldt handled it as if it were a loan and that made the legal part go away. The perpetrator, Benjamin Lenderbach, accepted time-served - preferable to hanging. I wonder if he became the first "hedge fund" manager ?

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11 hours ago, Conder101 said:

I believe Hogshead was referring to Nicholas Brock.

Yea. That was the one I was referring to. I'd swear up and down I didn't know no better. Tell them someone passed it off to me. 

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