The US Government recently won a lawsuit against a woman who had some 1933 gold double eagles she found in her father's safe deposit box claiming that when the US went off the gold standard, most of the batch didn't make it into circulation, and therefore it was melted down and she shouldn't have had them.
In 2002 a 1933 gold double eagle sold for $7.6M.
MOST of them were melted down.
One survived and sold for $7.6M.
So....they weren't all melted down.....her father could have obtained them legally like she claimed despite Roosevelt's order that all gold be turned in.....the burden of proof is upon the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they were obtained illegally - not just have a THEORY - let the woman have her coins! Tax her on what she makes and stimulate the economy as a plea bargain deal! Man sakes!
Of course, if you were on a jury....would YOU want to make $15/day just so someone could walk out with $250M or however much in coins that you don't get anything for? Makes me wonder why this was heard by a jury.....hmmmm.....