The Spy and the Coin Collector

As of January 1, 1963 the importation of all gold coins into the U.S. was prohibited by the Federal Government. Nevertheless, a huge flow of gold coins continues, and the U.S. collector pays about $42 an ounce for the gold content—which is a premium of about 20 per cent over the official $35 price at which the U.S. Treasury makes gold available to official foreign claimants.

A few years ago, for example, gold coins of Czar Nicholas II, issued from 1893 to 1911, were relatively scarce and commanded good prices. Today a collector can buy a set of four (5, 7½, 10 and 15 rubles) for little more than gold value. These coins are modern restrikes, made from original dies, and no one can tell the difference. The 15-ruble coin was issued for only one year (1897) and should be rare—but there are today more 15-ruble Nicholas II coins in New York alone than were ever minted in 1897. Incidentally, there are three more coins to the Russian gold set—the 2½, 25, and 37½ rubles—that are not being restruck at the moment. Consequently they are listed as rare.

MM

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Michael MacDougall

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As of January 1, 1963 the importation of all gold coins into the U.S. was prohibited by the Federal Government. Nevertheless, a huge flow of gold coins continues, and the U.S. collector pays about $42 an ounce for the gold content—which is a premium of about 20 per cent over the official $35 price at which the U.S. Treasury makes gold available to official foreign claimants.

A few years ago, for example, gold coins of Czar Nicholas II, issued from 1893 to 1911, were relatively scarce and commanded good prices. Today a collector can buy a set of four (5, 7½, 10 and 15 rubles) for little more than gold value. These coins are modern restrikes, made from original dies, and no one can tell the difference. The 15-ruble coin was issued for only one year (1897) and should be rare—but there are today more 15-ruble Nicholas II coins in New York alone than were ever minted in 1897. Incidentally, there are three more coins to the Russian gold set—the 2½, 25, and 37½ rubles—that are not being restruck at the moment. Consequently they are listed as rare.