Mint Worker Stole $2.4 Million in Error Coins

A former police officer for the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has fessed up to stealing $2.4 million worth of so-called “error coins” and selling them to a coin distributor in California.

Yesterday, 64-year-old William Gray pleaded guilty to charges of theft of government property and tax evasion.

Gray, of North Wildwood, N.J., had worked at the U.S. Mint since 1996.

In a federal court in Camden, N.J., he admitted to swiping $1 presidential coins that were missing edge lettering, knowing they would be considered more valuable to coin collectors because they were considered “mint errors” or “error coins”. He mailed them from New Jersey.

He was freed on $50,000 bail.

Gray is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20th.

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• N.J. man admits he stole coins from U.S. Mint (philly.com)
• (msnbc.msn.com)