At PennyVerse.info, we track the world’s most valuable coins – and this legendary 1933 gold piece holds the record as the most expensive coin ever sold at auction. Here’s everything you need to know about this numismatic unicorn.
📌 1933 Double Eagle Fast Facts
- Mintage: 445,500 (but nearly all melted)
- Survivors: 13 known (10 in gov’t vaults + 1 legal + 2 stolen)
- Record Price: $7,590,020 (2002 auction)
- Gold Content: 0.9675 oz (worth $2,000+ melt value)
- Legal Status: All but one are illegal to own
🔍 Why This Coin Is So Valuable
- The Great Depression Meltdown
- FDR’s 1933 Executive Order 6102 recalled all gold coins
- 445,500 were minted but never officially released
- Most were melted into gold bars
- The Secret Service Hunt
- 20+ coins stolen by Mint cashier
- 10 recovered and destroyed by 1952
- 1 escaped to Egypt with King Farouk
- The Legal Battle
- 2002: Only legalized specimen sold for $7.59M
- 2011: 10 more found but locked in legal limbo
💎 Known Specimens & Where They Are
| Specimen | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Farouk Coin | Private Collector | Only legal one |
| Smithsonian Pair | National Collection | Never left the Mint |
| Langbord 10 | Fort Knox | Government seized |
| 2 Missing | Unknown | Presumed destroyed |
💰 Current Value Estimates (2024)
- Farouk Coin (Legal): $15M+ (if sold today)
- Hypothetical MS-65: $25M+ (if legalized)
- Gold Melt Value: $2,000 (but completely irrelevant)
💡 Reality Check: Unless you’re holding the Farouk specimen (currently in NYC), any 1933 Double Eagle you find is illegal contraband.
🚨 What To Do If You Find One
- Don’t Touch It (seriously)
- Call a Lawyer (not a coin dealer)
- Contact the Mint (202-354-7227)
PennyVerse Verdict: This is the only coin where finding it could get you in more trouble than it’s worth!
🔗 Learn More at PennyVerse.info
We cover the full history of America’s most controversial coin – including courtroom documents and never-before-seen Mint records.
*”The 1933 Double Eagle isn’t just a coin – it’s a piece of American history that the government doesn’t want you to own.”*
- The PennyVerse Team
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