Political Prisoner Bernard von Nothaus

Bernard von Nothaus, creator of the Liberty Dollar medallion, has been found guilty of numerous counts including counterfeit and now potentially faces 15 years in prison (he hasn't been sentenced yet) because his company minted one ounce silver and gold medallions. The US government now considers him a domestic terrorist. Von Nothaus created a product that is currently in high demand. His product competed directly with US fiat currency that has lost 96% of its value since its inception and is losing value at an exponentially faster rate. The issue is simply that Von Nothaus has threatened the government’s monopoly on counterfeiting.

While the dollar, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has declined in value by over 20% in the last decade, one of von Nothaus’ Liberty gold and silver one ounce medallions have increased in value by over 425% and 585%, respectively. Why would anyone ever prefer use of dollars when comparing them to medallions? There is no wonder why the feds shut down von Nothaus’ operation. The government has set an example of what they will do to those who challenge them. Mr. Nothaus will become another of the many political prisoners in the US.

Von Nothaus is accused of counterfeit but counterfeiting, as von Nothaus has said, is “using something of no value to get something for value.” His company was doing the opposite of what the government is doing. The fact that the government is targeting those who choose to protect themselves from a devaluing fiat currency is Orwellian. Unfortunately, this is a trend that I fear will escalate.