Uncle Sam emerged the winner Wednesday in the court battle over 10 extremely valuable gold coins known as “Double Eagles” that were minted in 1933 and discovered 80 years later in a dead man’s safe deposit box.
After a 10-day trial, a U.S. District Court jury delivered its verdict by answering a single, simple question. Yes, the jury said, the government proved that it had the right to seize the coins from the heirs of Israel Switt, the gold dealer who died 21 years ago but was a central figure in the trial.
