collecting - eBay Cancels Ancient Coin Auctions

Several German dealers returning to their business from the World Money Fair
in Berlin were surprised to find that while they were away at the show, eBay
had cancelled their ancient coin listings because of policies regarding
selling archaeological objects on eBay. One major dealer found that listings
for about 200 ancient coins had been deleted, including some which had just
been acquired from the NYINC sales and old collections.

This very well established dealer made the following angry comment:
"There is no law in Germany prohibiting selling or collecting ancient coins,
however a few police and hardline archaeologists are taking the law in their
own hands and are obviously threatening the ignorant staff of eBay with
false accusations. Goodbye eBay, because they do not protect their clients
from false accusations and give their addresses to the police, including
those of collectors all over the world. So far in Germany hundreds of houses
have been searched, many collections have been confiscated and their
rightful owners have been accused of "Hehlerei" (fencing). The Fourth Reich
has arrived and we have to defend the free market in Germany against these
self-proclaimed "Führers".

I am very upset and very sad, because I moved to a then liberal Germany more
than ... years ago. This reminds of the predicament of our colleagues in
1933."

************************************************** *********
TRANSLATION of eBay's message announcing these cancellations:
************************************************** *********

eBAY sent this communication to [name of eBay seller]. Your first name and
surname in this communication are a proof that the message came from eBAY.
More to the subject ..... eBAY listing was removed: Archeological findings
(XXXXXXXXX)

Good day [name of eBay seller]

We cancelled the following auction and/or want ad listed on eBAY:
[list of removed auctions]

Your auction and/or your want ad violates eBAY policy regarding
archeological findings and was therefore concluded. In accordance with our
general business conditions, auctions or want ads which violate legal
directives or eBAY policies may not be transacted on eBAY. Your eBAY fees
for this article were credited to your member discount. All bidders for this
article were informed of the cancellation.

It is forbidden to offer archeological findings whose lawful acquisition and
possession the supplier cannot prove on eBAY. Especially the following
articles may not be offered:
- antique coins, weapons, ceramics, jewelry or tools - sacral objects -
fossils and minerals

Reference:
According to the different landesrechtlichen regulations, the Finder of
archeological findings is obligated to report this to the responsible
historical preservation authority or Hanseatic league depending on the
circumstances. In most states, findings pass over automatically into the
property of the respective state. The offering or the acquisition of
archeological findings can therefore criminal penalties and other legal
consequences.
You find further information about this policy under:
http://pages.ebay.de/help/policies/artifacts.html

....

Important notice: Repeated submission of this or a similar article as well
as further offences against eBAY policies or valid right can incur loss of
the right to trade on eBAY as a consequence.

On the following links, you can inform yourself about eBAY policies
concerning inadmissible articles as well as our general business conditions:

http://pages.ebay.de/help/sell/quest...ted-items.html
http://pages.ebay.de/help/policies/user-agreement.html

Thank you very much for your understanding.

With kind regards

eBAY security team

To send a message follow the link below.

For Germany:
http://pages.ebay.de/aboutebay/contact.html

************************************
----- The Original German text -----
************************************

eBay hat diese Mitteilung an [name of eBay seller] gesendet. Ihr Vor- und
Nachname in dieser Mitteilung sind ein Hinweis darauf, dass die Nachricht
tatsächlich von eBay stammt. Mehr zum Thema. ...

Guten Tag [name of eBay seller],

Sie haben bei eBay folgendes Angebot bzw. folgende Suchanzeige
eingestellt:
[list of auctions removed]

Ihr Angebot bzw. Ihre Suchanzeige verletzt jedoch den eBay-Grundsatz
Archaeologische Funde und wurde deshalb beendet. Gemäß unseren
Allgemeinen Geschäftsbedingungen dürfen Angebote bzw Suchanzeigen,
welche gegen rechtliche Vorschriften oder die eBay-Grundsätze
verstoßen, nicht auf eBay eingestellt werden. Ihre eBay-Gebühren für
diesen Artikel wurden Ihrem Mitgliedskonto gutgeschrieben. Alle Bieter
für diesen Artikel wurden von der Löschung informiert.

Es ist verboten, archäologische Funde auf eBay anzubieten, deren
rechtmäßigen Erwerb und Besitz der Anbieter nicht nachweisen kann.
Insbesondere dürfen folgende Artikel nicht angeboten werden:
- antike Münzen, Waffen, Keramiken, Schmuck oder Werkzeuge
- sakrale Gegenstände
- Fossilien und Mineralien

Hinweis:
Nach den verschiedenen landesrechtlichen Regelungen ist der Finder
archäologischer Funde verpflichtet, diese der zuständigen
Denkmalschutzbehörde zu melden und unter Umständen auszuhändigen. In
den meisten Bundesländern gehen Funde automatisch in das Eigentum des
jeweiligen Landes über.

Das Anbieten oder der Erwerb von archäologischen Funden kann daher
straf- und ordnungsrechtliche Konsequenzen nach sich ziehen.
Weitere Informationen zu diesem Grundsatz finden Sie unter:
http://pages.ebay.de/help/policies/artifacts.html

....

Auf den folgenden Hilfeseiten können Sie sich über die eBay-Grundsätze
zu unzulässigen Artikeln sowie über die Allgemeinen
Geschäftsbedingungen informieren:
http://pages.ebay.de/help/sell/quest...ted-items.html
http://pages.ebay.de/help/policies/user-agreement.html

Vielen Dank für Ihr Verständnis.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

eBay-Sicherheitsteam

Zum Impressum gelangen Sie über den folgenden Link.

Für Deutschland:
http://pages.ebay.de/aboutebay/contact.html

....

Posted to the list by:

Dave Welsh
Unidroit-L Listowner
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unidroit-L