Nearly a $Million in Gold Tumbles From Attic

Workers involved in renovations in a building belonging to a champagne producer in France struck gold when coins began literally falling from above. The merchant will split the hoard with the workers who found it. Thanks to Esylum newsletter for catching this one. Story here.

Millions of Liberty Dollars Subject to Seizure

Millions of "Liberty Dollars" issued privately by entrepreneur Bernard von Nothaus can be seized by federal agents as counterfeit U.S. currency, according to a report in Coin World. Von Nothaus, founder of NORFED (National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Code), was recently convicted of several violations of U.S. law for issuing his "alternative" currency in copper, silver and gold. The coins are apparently still traded on auctions sites and at coin shows. The only consequences reported so far have been cancellation of an "educational" exhibit of the coins by show sponsors fearful of a raid by law enforcement. Here's an article on the issue, and for an interesting look at how emotionally charged this matter is, check out the comments.

Missouri Museum Heist An "Inside Job"

It's not unusual that thefts from an institution or place of business are the work of someone associated with the concern, here we have a small stash of gold coins disappearing into the pockets of a museum tour guide. From the deals offered for return of the coins, looks to me like he got a raw deal when he gave back his loot ... but then, given other problems at ANA, which had loaned the coins, that outfit probably isn't in a forgiving mood.

TSA's Coin Collection: $400,000 in One Year!

Small change apparently doesn't matter much to passengers hustling through the airport security checks, or maybe they've got a few foreign coins that they won't be needing? It all adds up though. In one year TSA harvested around $400,000 in left-behind change, according to this report in USA Today.