"Charles L. Harness-George Washington Slept Here" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harness Charles L)

counterfeits. And now Potts was stuck with it.
He said softly: "What did he think of her? Of Ms. Sena?"
York's ex-secretary shrugged. "I don't know. I think sometimes he thought she was crazy. She told
him the coins were counterfeit, but contained gold."
 "Gold?" He lifted the bag again and fought off an urge to open it on the spot. "You don't think so?"
"I don't know. I'm just a secretary, Mr. Potts."
"And one of the best, Miss Joyner."
"Can I help you carry the bag to your car?"
"Thanks, no." He opened the car door for her and watched her drive away. Next week he'd have to
help her wind up Fenleigh's affairs. Just now, he had other problems.
***


Inside his motel room Potts drew the drapes, chain-locked the door, and very carefully opened the
bag. On the very top was a fold of ivory-hued fabric, which he took to be a coarsely-woven mix of linen
and wool. He eased it back carefully.
Despite the dim lighting, golden sparkles rose up and dazzled him. He stared, unbelieving. He reached
in and picked out a coin at random. He adjusted his spectacles, read the date, then closed his eyes for a
moment, then opened them again and read the date once more. This time out loud, as though to convince
his ears: "Seventeen ninety-five."
A 1795 gold coin. My goodness!
Rings a bell. In fact, two bells. The Mount Vernon Trust sent me that notice... a missing 1795 gold
eagle. And Barton Badging. Barton, are you still looking for a 1795 gold eagle? Proof condition?
He replaced the coin and picked up another. Seventeen ninety-five. The next, seventeen ninety-five.
And another. The whole bag? Shades of Blackstone! The bag must weigh at least forty pounds. Forty
pounds of 1795's? Counterfeits, Miss Joyner had said? Sena, where did you get these?
He picked up the phone and got Catlin at her apartment back home. "I need information about old
coins. Look in your access index. I'll wait."
She was back in a few minutes. "There are several sources."
"Top three?"
"American Numismatic Association; Professional Numismatic Guild, Inc.; and National Coin
Collectors. And guess who was past president of NCC?"
"Not Barton Badging."
"Yes, Barton Badging. Mr. Potts, shouldn't this be on scramble?"
He smiled, but his mouth was in a hard line. "Don't bother just yet. Anything more on Badging?"
"He wrote a book, Grading Guide for Eighteenth Century Eagles. And he's an Associate
Authenticator. He can look at your coin and give you a certificate. He's really into this stuff, Mr. Potts.
Go on scramble, now?"
"No, not just yet. Access his book, get what he says about the seventeen ninety-five ten dollar gold
eagle."
"Right here. Liberty head. Designed by Robert Scot. Minted at Philadelphia. Seventeen point five
grams, thirty-three millimeters diameter, reeded edge. Ninety-one point six seven percent gold, balance
copper." She paused.
"How many minted?"
"Five thousand, five hundred and eighty-three."
"What's one worth?"
"The best listed is MS-sixty-five, uncirculated, last auction at one hundred thousand dollars. Mint
proof is better than that. Only one known to be struck, and given to George Washington for approval.
Whereabouts unknown."
"Very good, Miss Catlin. Now we scramble." He placed the electronic device over the phone