Actually, this has already occurred with
Cyprus, import restrictions for many Cypriot coins entering the U.S. taking effect on July 16, 2007. Similar import restictions on certain coins entering the U.S. from
China went into effect March 9, 2009. Compared to the ridiculous terms of the Cyrpiot and
Chinese restrictions, the
Italian ones, bad as they are, are positively liberal.
I seriously don't think it will be seriously enforced anyway. Even if it is, I myself have no intention of abiding by it should I purchase something abroad for my
collection. As I said, who can remember to declare every little piece of metal one buys when travelling? As Anatole
France said long ago "For laws to be respected they first must be respectable."
I am certainly not trying to argue with you, Lloyd. As collectors we are on the same
side, after all. And, of course, I am going to be U.S.-centric in my approach. I am a U.S. citizen, this is a U.S. government action, and I am viewing this in light of how it will affect me as such. Everyone in the world is focused on their own interests and those of the country of which they are citizens, whatever they may say to the contrary.
That said, I certainly don't approve of this MOU foolishness that my government has embarked upon, first with
Cyprus and
China and now, a few years later, with
Italy and next, doubtless, with
Greece. Then again, I don't approve of a great deal my government does. But, pray telll me, what can I do about it? What can you do about anything the Australian government does? These are matters beyond our ability to influence. We can write letters, send emails,
cast ballots. But, as the maxim goes, if these actually affected change they'd be illegal. What we
can do is look out for our own personal interests. I am not advising others to scoff at this policy (technically I don't think it can be called law, since it was not enacted by any legislative authority of which I am aware, though that is what it effectively is), but I, as a collector, surely intend to!