GREAT NUMISMATIC THEFTS

Pete Smith writes:

This report does not include the theft of current coins, currency or bullion and does not include looting during time of war. It also does not include robberies where the owner was murdered.

1. In 2019, three coins were stolen from a collection in Durango, Colorado. They included an 1894-S barber dime, one of nine known, a 1652 Willow tree silver sixpence and a 1794 flowing hair dollar. Value of the three coins was estimated at $2.1 million.

2. March 27, 2017, three thieves stole a single gold coin from the Bode Museum in Berlin. It was a one million dollar gold Canadian Maple Leaf weighing 221 pounds and valued at $4.3 million. Suspects were apprehended and three received prison sentences.

3. In 2012 thieves took five coin cases out of Julian Leidman's minivan when he stopped for dinner in Pine Brook, New Jersey. The loss was around $4 million in value.

4. In 2011, William Gray admitted stealing presidential coins that were missing edge lettering from the Philadelphia Mint. Estimated value was $2.4 million.

5. In 2007 an employee at the ANA Museum admitted stealing a million dollars worth of coins. Collections manager Wyatt Yeager was convicted and received a sentence of 27 months in prison. Investigation of this theft revealed that other coins were also missing but were not taken by Yeager.

6. In 2007 thieves took a bag of coins from a car at the valet stand of the Peabody Hotel during the FUN show. Three thieves with knives were captured on surveillance camera but were not caught. At last report the car they were driving has also not been found.

7. Also in 2007, a thousand coin collection was stolen from the home of Lord and Lady Stewartby in Broughton, Scotland. Value was estimated at a half million pounds. The remaining collection was donated to a museum.

8. In 1999 thieves followed Tom Reynolds home to Omaha after the Central States show and took coins out of his unlocked car. Loss was estimated at a million dollars. An arrest was made in July. Some coins later showed up that had been consigned to an auction by Stack's Bowers.

9. In December 1976, the reference collection for The Organization of International Numismatists was stolen from a The Americana Hotel in New York City.

10. On December 1, 1973, a visitor used a ruse to gain entrance to the Harvard's Fogg Art Museum after hours. He produced a gun and restrained the guard while four men ransacked the coin collection. Perhaps 5000 coins valued at $5 million were taken. At the time this was described as the largest coin theft in history.

11. In 1967 thieves broke into the home of Willis Dupont in Coconut Grove, Florida and stole a collection of 7000 coins. Some have been recovered over a period of time.

12. Coins were stolen from Yale University on May 29, 1965. A Brasher Doubloon recovered after the theft was later sold to raise funds for a new library.

13. In November 1962, the coin collection was stolen from the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. It had been donated by John W. Snyder, Secretary of the Treasury under Truman.

14. The Nevada State Museum was robbed on August 2, 1952. Two thieves snuck in during the night and smashed a glass display case and stole rare coins struck at the Carson City Mint.

15. In 1930 a collection of ancient silver and gold coins was stolen from the Russian Museum in Leningrad.

16. On January 2, 1930, an attempt was made to break into the Omaha Public Library to steal from the Byron Reed collection. A suspect was apprehended before the theft could be completed.

17. In 1929 a collection was stolen in France that belonged to Ernest Gregoire. It was stolen from the home of his cousin after his death.

18. The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington was robbed of a priceless collection of gold coins on July 29, 1926. Some of these were returned after being sold to a faultless buyer.

19. In 1920 a group of more than a hundred gold coins was stolen from the Lisbon National Library.

20. The Etruscan Museum of Corneto, Italy, lost its collection of Ancient coins, cameos and jewels to thieves in 1916.

21. In 1914, The Numismatist reported that the entire numismatic collection of the Museum of Lubeck had been stolen in Berlin.

22. Coins were stolen from the collection of Waldo Newcomer in 1913. Value of the loss was $30,000. An electrician who had recently installed a burglar alarm was charged with the theft. When he was unable to sell all of the stolen coins, he dumped some in the Hudson river.

23. In 1913, The Numismatist reported on the theft of 5000 coins worth $250,000 from the Glen Island Realty and Development Company in New York.

24. In the 1880's a thief stole a collection of Greek coins from the local museum. He sold them to Dealers Rollin & Fenardent of Paris. Having gotten a good look at the establishment, he returned later and stole the collection again from the dealers.

25. On September 18, 1858. two visitors used a fake key to open a cabinet at the Philadelphia Mint. About $200 in gold coins were taken that would have a high collector value today. The thieves tried to sell them to Philadelphia dealers S. H. & H. Chapman but they recognized that these were unusual coins and the thieves were apprehended. A unique 1849 Templeton Reid $25 gold coin was never recovered.

26. On April 10, 1796, coins were stolen from the Gardner Baker collection at the Tammany Museum. Someone wrote an article about this for The Numismatist.

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
LOOSE CHANGE: FEBRUARY 14, 2021 : The 25 Greatest Art Heists of All Time (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n07a31.html)
JOHN FORD TAPE AND CHARLESTON SLAVE TAGS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n50a09.html)

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