As a collector of ancients and frequent traveler to
Italy I have read a lot of conflicting information, including several posts on this
forum, regarding the purchase of ancient
Roman coins as a tourist in
Italy.
What are the laws of purchasing coins in
Italy, and taking them out of the country - such as
home to the UK, USA or
Canada?
And what are the practicalities of doing so?
I have never purchased coins in
Rome, and instead spent the time at the Capitoline Museum which has coins I could never afford, and have only rarely seen come up at
auction.
In my time as a collector, I have advised others to do the same due to the unclear laws and the potential delay at customs. But I have been taken to task for my reticence, and gotten into some rather heated arguments with other collectors over this matter.
I know that Andrew McCabe and
Meepzorp have written on this issue 10 years ago, but I would like to know what the laws - and practicalities are of
buying coins in
Rome and leaving the country with them.