Comments about ‘Woman trades rare coins for groceries’

I guarantee you that she didn't know what she was giving away.

This story will attract dozens of "that was me" statments from thieves.

Go to the closest Wal-Mart(s) and ask them to pull surveillance camera footage on the same day not too long after she visited the bank. Maybe you can see her clearly enough to post a picture of her and get her identified.

The Wal-Mart should have a record on file of every single transaction, whether paid in cash or not. If you can identify her transaction somehow (use the video tape) you'll know exactly what she bought. Have the claimants all write down a DETAILED list of what was bought from the Wal-Mart. The bank teller that took the coins from her can also visually identify her.

I TOTALLY applaud Zion's bank for trying to return the coins to her! They know full well that had she known the value of her coins she never would have traded them for less than $300.

Good luck.

She probably stole the coins from someone and that is why she didn't know their value. The rightful owner probably doesn't even know they are missing.

Lets not be ones to quickly judge. I just hope whoever they belong to, they are returned.

I have to say this board is full of some of the most judgemental people imaginable.

Seems like the bank took advantage of this lady. Any teller should be wise enough to ask for the manager to sit down with the lady and advise her of what she potentially had, and refer her to a coin dealer of good reputation. Depending on her mental condition (ie if she seemed confussed or other wise vulnerable) I the manager should have called for the police to escort her.



so much for looking after the customer.

I think the teller knew exactly what he was doing and took advantage of the poor woman. Another report states that he turned around and purchased the coins from the bank at face value and then later took them to a coin dealer to find out their value. He should be fired for not alerting the manager of the situation and advising the woman properly.

She was between 20-30 and tried to use them at a Walmart....considering her age and the age of the coins (most likely heirlooms) that she may have stolen them and was ignorant of their real value?

Might explain her not rushing to claim who she is?

Kudos, to the bank for trying to return them.

These rare gold coins just might be loot from the robbery and murder at Jordan Allgood's coin shop in St. George around 2002 or 2003. If I recall, there were many gold double eagle coins stolen in that robbery/homicide. SGPD should REALLY check this story out!

who burglarized our home had no idea that the little, slightly crude silver buttons they stole were made by an Apache silversmith well over a hundred years ago and given to a young Lt. in the 6th Cavalry--my great uncle. I doubt whether the person the thieves sold them to gave them more than 5 bucks for them. I hope the true owner of those gold coins is found, because, I bet you my life it wasn't the young women who sold them.

What is with this bank teller that he didn't get a manager or someone to handle this? He tried to purchase the gold coins? Integrity? Honesty? Wow!

Those are rare collectible years for the double eagle. The true owner of those coins would never have sold them for a measly 20 dollars when they were worth at least 2 grand each.

They should get her face from the camera logs and issue it exactly as they would someone who robbed the bank. She deserves to be locked up for her actions and hopefully the rightful owner is found.

Luckily for the rightful owner, they were robbed by a complete moron and probably a drug fiend.

college student! I wouldn't doubt it if a college student would have been dumb enough to cash in gold coins grandma gave her from the 1800s at the value they held when they were minted. Most people would at least suspect that their double eagle coin is worth more than $20 each. I guess she's missing out on at least $13,000.00 and up to a lot more than that. I doubt a person who gave the coins up like that is one to follow the news at all and may not even own a television since she gave up gold coins for food--hence, the college student theory. She will probably never find out. How frustrating!

to pay for tuition at the U.

Just shows how dumb people are..thinking Gold is money..

The kid who stole a great deal of my husband's coin and bill collection spent it. Some bills were passed still in their protective sleeves. Sounds like somebody is missing their gold coins and either hasn't yet noticed the burglary, as we didn't for some time, or are dead.
Now I know why the Bank clerk was canned, not for stupidity, but venality.

Why didn't the bank know originally what they were?

Geez. No wonder our country is in such a mess. It's innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around, people. If I were the girl, I'd sure hope I never had to be tried by a jury composed of commenters on this article.

Kudos to @"What You Do Now" who suggested some excellent next steps to find the girl. (And to the others not pressing for a lynching).

if the teller did indeed try to buy them from the bank, he should be put in jail, for if that is true, he knew full well what is was doing, fire him, and prosecute him for being a con artist (no disrespect to artists.)

"(no disrespect to artists.)"

Thank you, thank you. What a delightful comment. :o)

The bank teller by law would need to redeem US minted money for its face value. That they did not pocket the coins shows the intergity and honesty of the teller. In my opion the teller was a hero, and I hope there is a happy ending to the story.