The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 1, January 6, 2008, Article 18

DIX NOONAN WEBB ROBBERY REPORTED

[As the 2008 FUN show and the anniversary of last year's
robberies of dealers following that show approaches, this
article about a similar robbery in the U.K. is a timely
reminder for attendees of all coin shows to be on their
guard at all times.  -Editor]

A chest of antique coins worth up to £300,000 was stolen by
a gang in a sting on two auctioneers as they drove away from
a exhibition centre.

Experts fear that the collection, which featured two gold
coins of priceless historical value, could have been melted
down. One of the coins can be dated back to 1826 and was
worth up to £35,000.

The gang of about six men and two women targeted two men
from Dix Noonan Webb, the auctioneer, in South Kensington,
London, when the coins had been displayed at Earl’s Court
Exhibition Centre. It is believed that the gang sabotaged
the men’s car and followed them from the centre.

Details of the elaborate sting have only just been released
by the police as they continue to hunt for the gang.

Detective Sergeant Neil Phillpot, from Notting Hill CID,
said: “We believe this was an organised crime involving at
least seven suspects. We are keen to trace them and believe
they may be from Central or South America.”

Piers Noonan, of the auctioneers, said: “One five pound coin
made in 1826 during the reign of George IV was worth £30,000
to £35,000 alone.

“We can trace its history from a Sotheby’s sale in 1854. It
has always been rare and always been appreciated. It’s so
rare it’s recognisable to collectors and almost unsellable
in the public domain.

“The people who stole it got it for nothing and may just
melt it down for a scrap dealer for about £500.” A mint
condition £2 coin worth £15,000 to £18,000 and smelted in
1820 was also among the collection, which also included
rare coins from Tibet, Austria, France, Australia and Burma.

Mr Noonan added: “It’s a huge loss. What we are talking
about are several items which are unique and have been
cherished for 200 years which could now be in a melting
pot. It’s very disrespectful.

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

 FUN SHOW COIN HEIST NETS $4 MILLION HAUL
 esylum_v10n02a10.html

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum