Pulitzer Prize Medals Stolen

[Basilstate]

There was a article in Coins & Banknotes in the late 2000 about the theft of these medals and subsequent turning up for Auction.
Looking for another story on Coin thefts when i came across this,FBI has recovered them.


https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2008/january/pulitzer_011808

[nealeffendi]

Seems a bit strange that the auction house refused to tell the FBI citing a strict confidentiality agreement. Whoever submitted the medal is at a minimum guilty of possessing stolen goods. Seems like the auction house employee who took possession of the stolen medal, and any staff who handled it, could be guilty of possessing and handling stolen goods or accessory or transporting stolen goods across state lines. I'm sure a court order alone to turn over records would break their silence.
I hope none of our auction houses are that stupid when it comes to stolen goods.

[Basilstate]

Hi Neal,interesting story but obviously more details to emerge.
The original story in C&B was a teaser with no detail other than the theft,i'll keep an eye out on what eventuated.

Lots of stolen Coins(and Stamps) in the system in Australia,very hard to Police.
The stolen Coins on the Gold Coast about 10 years ago,several thousand dollars worth according to our local dealer(at the time), Barry Cooper, they were broken out of their slabs and dispersed thru Dealers & Ebay.

[nealeffendi]

I get that there is a problem with stolen coins in the US and here. But knowing that they had handled stolen goods that were consigned by someone who had possession of stolen goods at the minimum and may as been the thief or a fence, then what makes the auction house protect scum?

[Basilstate]

I get that there is a problem with stolen coins in the US and here. But knowing that they had handled stolen goods that were consigned by someone who had possession of stolen goods at the minimum and may as been the thief or a fence, then what makes the auction house protect scum?

I think there are different State and Federal Laws in the USA compared to ours,in a case from a few years ago the FBI couldn't convince Apple to unlock one of their Phones and that was originally a murder case AFAIK.

Dot joining and surmising but Police think this bloke could have been responsible for several Coin collection thefts on the Gold Coast 10-15 years ago.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/australian-sailor-accused-of-gold-coin-theft-20170830-p4yvmn.html

[Mister T]

That sounds iffy.
Pulitzer Prize medals surely have better provenance than standard Australian coins so should be easier to track right?