Barry Berke Featured in New Book on History of the Rare Double Eagle Coin

Litigation Partner Barry Berke is featured in Double Eagle, a new book by American Lawyer writer Alison Frankel. Double Eagle traces the story of a 1933 twenty-dollar Double Eagle coin designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The coin's story began when it was allegedly removed from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia after Franklin D. Roosevelt took the U.S. off the gold standard. The rare coin traveled in various circles, even ending up in the possession of Egyptian King Farouk, before eventually being sold at auction.  Berke became involved with the coin in 1996 when he was retained to represent Stephen Fenton, a British numismatist who was arrested in a Secret Service sting in which Fenton attempted to sell the coin.  Berke successfully represented Fenton in the criminal action and later negotiated a settlement for Fenton that authorized the private ownership of the legendary coin - it was sold at auction with the profits split between the U.S. government and Fenton.  In July 2002, the 1933 Double Eagle sold for a record $7.5 million. Berke's involvement does not end there. He currently represents Joan Langbord, the daughter of a Philadelphia jeweler named Israel Switt. Langbord came forward in 2005 with 10 1933 Double Eagles that her father had in his possession. The U.S. Mint took temporary possession of the coins to test them for authenticity. Since then, the Mint claims it has recovered the coins from the Langbord family, dismissing attempts by the family to have the coins returned.  Berke continues to work to have the coins returned to the Langbord family.