From the CIA archives:
As an attempt to control currency during the worst days of the Depression Presidential Executive Order 6102 (1933) and the Gold Reserve Act (1934) made owning or trading gold a criminal offense and required American citizens to sell their private possessions of gold (with limited exceptions— like wedding rings) to the U.S. Treasury. The U.S. Government instituted this policy to help the country weather the Great Depression and did not relax it until 1964 (and since then, investment in gold has skyrocketed).
Despite this barrier, the secret agent men of OSS acquired gold coins to cache in Occupied Europe during WWII and retrieve as needed to finance their efforts or those of the Nazi resistance. Although the coins were not legal tender, their inherent value ensured their usefulness. OSS never distributed this one, a $20 Gold Piece made in 1858, currently housed in the CIA Museum.
Photo: CIA
