A collecting forum. CollectingBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » CollectingBanter forum » Collecting newsgroups » Coins
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Collections Confiscated - Coin Collectors criminalized



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old January 31st 09, 09:42 PM posted to rec.collecting.coins
Dave Welsh
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 72
Default Collections Confiscated - Coin Collectors criminalized

German numismatists ring the alarm bells

German cultural authorities have begun searching private homes and seizing
entire collections of antique coins, if provenance of only a few coins in
the collection is not documented. These invasions are being conducted under
the new German laws on importation of cultural property. Coins being
subjected to such scrutiny are not restricted to ancient coins presumed to
have been excavated - medieval and antique modern coins are also subject to
the same measures. In one case, a pensioner from the Thuringian Eisenberg
recently acquired four old coins on an Internet auction site. Shortly
afterwards his house was searched, ending with seizure of his entire
collection. Collectors are understandably alarmed, because very few coins in
their collections have provenances that will satisfy the new laws. When a
collection becomes suspect only a short time is being allowed to prove licit
origin before the collection is seized, and then even if the suspicion is
unfounded, it is very difficult to recover the collection.

Not only coins, but all "cultural objects" more than 100 years old are
subject to these new cultural laws, leading to fears that stamp collections,
collections of graphic arts and antique jewelry may also be targeted. The
list of "cultural objects" in the 1970 UNESCO Convention is very extensive,
including such common things as coins, postage stamps, photographs and
printed books.

The new laws on importation of cultural property became effective in
September 2008, after the German government finally gave in to demands that
importation of unprovenanced coins and other artifacts should be prevented,
because archaeologists allege that looting of archaeological sites is driven
by the collecting market. This allegation is unproven - no verifiable,
factual evidence has yet been presented to support it.

There is however significant evidence that looting would continue unabated
even if collecting could be prevented in Europe and other areas where
cultural property laws are respected. Meanwhile German coin collectors now
feel completely insecure, like criminals suspected of breaking the law.
According to Ulf Draeger - head of the Moritzburg Landesmünzkabinetts and
chairman of the German Society of Medallic Arts - the entry into force of
these new laws, despite their laudable intentions, has led to significant
collateral damage in only a short time. His conclusion: "If this situation
continues, then we can pack up."

For a summary in English see
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Unidroit-L/message/3348

For the original articles in German see
http://www.numismatische-gesellschaft.de/
http://tinyurl.com/dfc7sp
http://tinyurl.com/bc8pqz

Google's translator conveys the sense of these articles for those who cannot
read German.

Dave Welsh



 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Buying coin collections Melton Boone Coins 1 March 1st 05 06:38 PM
Evaluating Coin Collections Buz Overbeck Coins 7 July 20th 03 10:47 PM
CSI and Coin Collections dendude Coins 1 July 19th 03 03:05 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CollectingBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.