It's the stuff myths are made of: the story of a celebrated artefact - the 1933 twenty-dollar gold piece - and its incredible journey from the deathbed of a famous artist to a sybaritic Egyptian king to a vault in the World Trade Centre to a record-breaking auction in July 2002, where it was sold for more than USD7.5 million. In ILLEGAL TENDER David Tripp tells a riveting tale of greed, intrigue and deception as it follows the once-secret trajectory of this amazing coin over the course of nearly a century. In 1905 President ...
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It's the stuff myths are made of: the story of a celebrated artefact - the 1933 twenty-dollar gold piece - and its incredible journey from the deathbed of a famous artist to a sybaritic Egyptian king to a vault in the World Trade Centre to a record-breaking auction in July 2002, where it was sold for more than USD7.5 million. In ILLEGAL TENDER David Tripp tells a riveting tale of greed, intrigue and deception as it follows the once-secret trajectory of this amazing coin over the course of nearly a century. In 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt commissioned America's greatest sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, to design what became America's most beautiful coin. At the height of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt took America off the gold standard and the newly minted but unissued 1933 Double Eagles were melted down. A few escaped, purloined, but were tracked down in a relentless investigation by the Secret Service, confiscated, and destroyed. But somehow, one survived. With its cast of kings, presidents, government agents, shadowy dealers and crooks, ILLEGAL TENDER will keep readers guessing about this priceless disk of gold - the coin that shouldn't be and almost wasn't - until the very end.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good dust jacket. Great overall condition. Minor cosmetic wear. No noteworthy blemishes. No writing.; -We offer free returns for any reason and respond promptly to all inquiries. Your order will be packaged with care and ship on the same or next business day. Buy with confidence.
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First Edition, first printing with full number line in fine / like new condition. The dust jacket has minor shelf wear. Pages are clean. Boards are solid, and spine is square and tight. Unclipped DJ. No remainder mark. All items guaranteed, and a portion of each sale supports social programs in Los Angeles. Ships from CA.
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B&W Photographs. Near Fine in Near Fine (in mylar) jacket. Hardcover. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. Overall gift quality copy, textblock immaculate and tight, b&w photographs. Red cloth spine with light bumping to head and foot of spine, paper boards in excellent condition. Unclipped dust jacket, minimally rubbed or worn. 363pp., including acknowledments and index.
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