November 15, 2007
If an alternative currency threatened the powers that be, it would be illegal

In September 2006, as noted here, the US Mint made threatening noises claiming that its competition, the private silver-based “Liberty Dollar”, was illegal. This week it appears that the other shoe has dropped.

An email arrived this morning from Bernard Von NotHaus, “Monetary Architect” of the Liberty Dollar project, with the subject line “FBI Raids Liberty Dollar -- Confiscates All Ron Paul Dollar[s]”. It begins:

Dear Liberty Dollar Supporters:

I sincerely regret to inform you that about 8:00 this morning a dozen
FBI and Secret Service agents raided the Liberty Dollar office in
Evansville.

For approximately six hours they took all the gold, all the silver,
all the platinum and almost two tons of Ron Paul Dollars that where
just delivered last Friday. They also took all the files, all the
computers and froze our bank accounts.

The complete letter is here. A news account, which basically just summarizes Von NotHaus’ letter and adds “no comments” from the FBI, is here. The Liberty Dollar website is here.

Posted by Lawrence H. White at 03:40 PM in Economics

The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it. -Adam Smith

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