Buried TreasureBuried Treasure
It is the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, designed by a famed sculptor at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. It should never have been minted. And, for decades, the U.S. government has fought to keep a surviving few out of private hands. Joan Langbord, daughter of jeweler Israel Switt, knew all this when in 2003 13 years after her father's death she claims she opened
March 1, 2007
Karen Donovan, freelance journalist, New York
It is the rarest and most valuable coin in the world, designed by a famed sculptor at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905. It should never have been minted. And, for decades, the U.S. government has fought to keep a surviving few out of private hands.
Joan Langbord, daughter of jeweler Israel “Izzy” Switt, knew all this when in 2003 — 13 years after her father's death — she claims she opened the contents of her dad's safe deposit box for the first time and found 10 gold 1933 Double Eagle $20 coins.
Switt, who'd had a business near the Philadelphia Mint, is something of a legend among numismatists: He went in and out of the Mint to sell scrap gold and silver — and is believed to b...
Unlock All Access Premium Subscription
Get Trusts & Estates articles, digital editions, and an optional print subscription. Choose your subscription now and dive into expert insights today!
Already Subscribed?
