More Stolen Coins Found in Doctor’s Collection

An expert dispatched by the American Numismatic Society has identified at least 10 stolen coins among the more than 5,000 rare coins owned by Coronado heart surgeon Juan Suros XII, a police spokesman said Friday.

San Diego police spokesman Dave Cohen said the 10 stolen coins were identified as of Wednesday, and the expert has discovered an undetermined number of additional stolen pieces since then. Alan Stahl, who is identified as a curator of medieval coins and of medals, was sent to San Diego this week by the society after Suros, 48, was arrested in New York City and charged with grand larceny.

New York authorities said that Suros was arrested last weekend and accused of stealing between 86 and 91 rare coins from the society’s headquarters. A New York City police spokesman said that a search of Suros’ room at the exclusive Harvard Club in Manhattan led to the recovery of several dozen stolen coins from his briefcase. The pilfered coins were valued at more than $500,000.

On Monday, Suros was released on $7,500 bail and ordered to return to a New York City courtroom next month for a preliminary hearing.

San Diego police detectives seized Suros’ coin collection from his Chula Vista office and a safe deposit box in Kearny Mesa earlier this week. The value of the stolen coins and Suros’ extensive collection is not known, Cohen said.

“The 5,000 coins is a conservative figure. We don’t have an exact number,” said Cohen. “We recovered eight from the doctor’s office and the bulk came from the safe deposit box. . . . The expert identified 10 of the coins as stolen on Wednesday, but we have information that he may have identified more stolen coins since then.”

Earlier in the week it was reported that the numismatic society had offered not to prosecute Suros as long as the group got the stolen coins back. Representatives for Suros and the society attempted to take possession of Suros’ collection and take it back to New York for examination. However, New York law enforcement authorities said that they did not want the collection removed from police jurisdiction and the attempted compromise failed.

As a member and contributor to the society, Suros was allowed to handle trays of rare coins. New York City police said that society officials noticed two months ago that several coins--most of which were Spanish and Mexican--would mysteriously disappear every time that Suros handled the trays.

Last week, Suros handled three trays on two different days. When the trays were returned, society officials said that 13 valuable coins were missing. The 13 coins were valued at about $70,000. Suros was arrested last Saturday, after a search of his room.