RP4L:
I agree with you. However, the Treasury Dept. was going to go after these coins if word ever got out they were being offered for sale.
It makes sense to me that the Treasury has a very long memory regarding theft - although story about the silver missing from the San Francisco Mint didn't get much public play.
The 1933 Gold Act recalled all US gold coins. The 1933 $20 gold pieces were never released to the general public. I really don't see how the folks who had these coins really had a position.
Now, perhaps they should have tested the waters with just one coin. And kept the rest back as leverage for negotiation, as in the past the Treasure paid a reward or finders' fee or whatever they called it when another coin had been put up for sale.
However, once the Treasury had them all in hand - the leverage was gone.
Good luck to all,
~The Old Bookaroo