Top 5 Most Notorious Mint Robberies 1 1

[Woods020]

I was doing some reading last night on an unrelated topic and stumbled across this article. It was clickbait for sure but several of these I wasn’t aware of. I especially was amused by Henry S Cochran and his low tech process to steal gold bars. Many of you probably knew about all of these but a nice light read for those that didn’t. 
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/komonews.com/amp/sponsored/sell-gold/the-top-five-most-notorious-mint-robberies

[RWB]

This one is misleading:

1. The Denver Mint Robbery
On the afternoon of December 18, 1922, five men stormed a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck outside the U.S. Mint in Colorado. A black Buick screamed up to the curb and out jumped several gunmen who grabbed nearly $200,000 in currency that was being loaded onto the truck. U.S. Mint guards rushed to the scene, but the gang had already made their getaway. No one was ever charged with the robbery, despite Denver Police Chief A.T. Clark's announcement 12 years later that the robbery team had been identified. The suspects that were identified were already in prison on unrelated charges or had died.

The Mint was not robbed, nor the target of armed thieves. Their target was the bank truck from which they stole paper currency. Also, details of the robbery are wrong. A booklet produced several years ago in Denver, also got the story wrong.

Also, near the back of From Mine to Mint is a summary of multiple US Mint thefts and defalcations. The Cochran and Dimmick defalcations were not the largest.

Edited January 6, 2022 by RWB

[Fenntucky Mike]

The guys who stole that giant gold Canadian Maple Leaf are my favorite thieves of recent vintage, although they pinched it from a museum and not the mint.

Edited January 6, 2022 by Fenntucky Mike
Grammar

[RWB]

I recall reading that in 19th century Russia, mint employees - who were required to work nude - stuffed gold into rats, then caught them when they were outside the Moscow Mint. Now, that's eatin' high on the rodent!

[I'll double check this. Don't want to defame the rats.]

Edited January 6, 2022 by RWB

[Mohawk]

On 1/6/2022 at 5:11 PM, RWB said:

In 19th century Russia, mint employees - who were required to work nude - stuffed gold into rats, then caught them when they were outside the Moscow Mint. Now, that's eatin' high on the rodent!

I remember hearing that story somewhere years ago.....that was one of the absolute craziest numismatics related stories I've ever heard, if not the absolute craziest.  I may have even heard it from you, first Roger.....I can't remember.  It all runs together after a while!   Do you happen to know what the penalty would have been if these employees were caught?  It being the Russian Empire, I'd imagine it would have been death but I've been wrong before.  Without a doubt, these naked mint workers were taking a huge risk.

Edited January 6, 2022 by Mohawk

[RWB]

On 1/6/2022 at 5:30 PM, Mohawk said:

I remember hearing that story somewhere years ago.....that was one of the absolute craziest numismatics related stories I've ever heard, if not the absolute craziest.  I may have even heard it from you, first Roger.....I can't remember.  It all runs together after a while!   Do you happen to know what the penalty would have been if these employees were caught?  It being the Russian Empire, I'd imagine it would have been death but I've been wrong before.  Without a doubt, these naked mint workers were taking a huge risk.

I presume the penalty was death, or worse. Mint workers were just as close to being full slaves and the peasants.

[Mohawk]

On 1/6/2022 at 5:41 PM, RWB said:

I presume the penalty was death, or worse. Mint workers were just as close to being full slaves and the peasants.

That's what I was thinking, Roger.  The Russian Empire was a pretty terrible place to live for most of the people who lived there.  Thanks for the answer  

[GoldFinger1969]

On 1/6/2022 at 5:43 PM, Mohawk said:

That's what I was thinking, Roger.  The Russian Empire was a pretty terrible place to live for most of the people who lived there.  Thanks for the answer  

Lenin's and Stalin's Paradise wasn't much better. 

[Mohawk]

On 1/6/2022 at 9:01 PM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Lenin's and Stalin's Paradise wasn't much better. 

Russia definitely doesn't have a great track record.  But I'd take the Soviets over the Czars any day.  That's just my personal choice, however.  Others may feel differently.

Edited January 7, 2022 by Mohawk

[Henri Charriere]

On 1/6/2022 at 5:11 PM, RWB said:

I recall reading that in 19th century Russia, mint employees - who were required to work nude - stuffed gold into rats, then caught them when they were outside the Moscow Mint. Now, that's eatin' high on the rodent!

[I'll double check this. Don't want to defame the rats.]

I seriously doubt this is possible, but I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.  My mouth is larger than a rat's and my stomach is bigger, too. I am going to swallow one of my French 20-franc gold roosters.  If you hear fro me, you're right. If you don't, well, I will hold you blameless. 😉  

Edited January 7, 2022 by Quintus Arrius
Die polishing.

[Conder101]

The rats would have the belly cut open, the gold coins placed inside and the the belly sewn back up.  This was done by a thief in the San Francisco Mint as well.  Same process.

[Henri Charriere]

🐓:  At least the rats were good for something.

Q.A.  That's easy for you to say.