On April 2, 2010 the Numismatic Crime Information Center and several dealers in the Los Angeles California area were instrumental in assisting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department in a dramatic arrest and recovery of $95,000 in rare Chinese gold coins.

Det. Lord with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department contacted the Numismatic Crime Information Center at Numismaticcrimes.org and requested assistance on an individual attempting to pawn six 1921 China Republic $1 gold coins for $20,000 a piece. Doug Davis Founder/President of NCIC contacted Det.Lord by phone and offered the services of the Numismatic Crime Information Center. While on the phone Det.Lord and other officers had the suspect under surveillance and Lord proceeded to explain the circumstances to Davis. Det. Lord advised Davis that they were in the process of taking down the suspect and would need assistance in identifying the coins. The suspect was arrested and the coins confiscated.

Det. Lord forwarded pictures of the coins to Davis which were housed in plastic 2×2’s and had stickers imprinted with a number and the name Sotheby’s on the outside. Concerned about the authenticity of the coins Davis contacted PNG dealer Robert Van Bebber to assist investigators. The coins were taken to Van Bebber and after examination he validated the authenticity of the coins. In addition, contact was made with Sotheby’s who identified the coins as being those sold in a 1986 auction.

Although there had been an arrest and the coins recovered no victim had been identified. Davis contacted several dealers in the southern California area who specialize in world coins to determine the potential identity of the victim. No one could provide any information on the offense. During the course of the investigation an informant advised investigators that the suspect had burglarized several businesses in the Los Angeles area and showed them the locations. Investigators contacted one of the business owner‘s who identified the coins. The victim had bought the coins for $25,000 in a 1986 Sotheby’s auction and did not know they had been stolen.

“This is the first case we have investigated involving coins and the resources provided by the Numismatic Crime Information Center were invaluable in the successful conclusion”, said Det. Lord. The suspect a known felon was charged with several burglaries and faces life in prison. (more…)