On 7/11/2011 1:28 AM, sgt23 wrote:
I'd hate to see what would happen to the hobby of numismatics if
government wins this case. We could possibly lose a lot of our rights
as collects and be limit too what we can collect. Although it will be
years before we find out how this will effect our hobby since this
will probably be tied up in court for that long.

This is not going to affect numismatics in one iota. As others said, it
will affect Switt's heirs and the owner of the other 1933 Saint, but
nobody else.

If anybody thinks Switt didn't know how he acquired these Saints and
believes what he said about not remembering, you no doubt believe the TV
ads for the "rare" clad copies of Buffalo dollars and such. Switt was
very well connected, knowing people inside the Mint.

Further, such subterfuge has long been an integral part of the high-end
collectable coin trade. Virtually all of the most expensive U.S. coins
are associated with illegality or probable illegality: 1933 Saint, 1804
dollar (Class II and III), 1913 Liberty Head nickels, 1885 Trade
dollars, others.

And if you think there are no 1964-D Peace dollars and 1974 aluminum
cents in private hands, having "slipped" out of the Mint, you should
probably think again. I have one specimen of each of them right here.
Not. But it's nearly certain that others do, though nobody of course is
talking openly about this because they too would be seized by the
government. I have no proof of this, just a fair amount of assurance
based upon talking to a number of people and precedent.

--

Consumer: http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur: http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit: http://rg.ancients.info/bogos