I think as collectors that we should try to aggressively protect our right to collect
ancient coins. I also think, however, that we lose credibility if we refuse to acknowledge that someone in our community has violated the law, where it is obvious that that is the case.
I hope Dr. Weiss learned to buy expensive coins from only the most reputable dealers, although he was clearly the victim,
Victim??? Quotes from one article follow. There are many, many, consistent articles on the issue.
"Under
Italian law,
antiquities found there after 1909 can't be removed from the country. But
Weiss said in a secretly recorded conversation: "I know this is a fresh coin. This was dug up a few years ago," according to the complaint.
*****
He acknowledged that he knew what to look for, was aware of Italy's
antiquities rules and believed that two other coins that he
had in
his possession at the
auction had been found after the 1909 deadline. All three coins were described as having been found in
Sicily.
*****
"I believed that the coin was authentic" in each instance, he said.
having had his private property rights violated,
How so? If you knowingly buy something you believe is stolen, when someone takes it back from you, are they violating your property rights?
and also his due process, for in coin terms - it's Vichy France, guilty until proven innocent.
No. Not at all. He was only arrested after it was established that there was probable cause to believe that he
had violated the law. Frankly, the American justice system, though not perfect is one of the best, if not the best in the world.
Good thing he wasn't drinking a large soda while having the coin, or else he might have been beheaded in NYC. It's certainly not on my short list of places to visit or live.
Bloomberg's recent soda and baby formula hi-jinks are certainly silly. I certainly wouldn't undertand why it would keep anyone from visiting NYC, though. Wonderful restaurants, museums, theaters,
shopping, hotels, and so on. To each
his own, however.
Lesson two he should learn, only sell expensive coins underground. Way to go, Wizards of Smart, encouraging people to avoid reputable places in fear of being tossed in the gulag. My coins are peasant-level compared to his, but if I had one of those, I sure wouldn't be stupid enough to put it in a major auction house and have some putz steal it.
This conclusion, as set forth above, is based on clearly and obviously erroneous premises. As a result, the conclusion itself is wrong.
I would be interested in how they were determined to be fakes and by whom.
Me too. That would be interesting to know. I've read some stories on it, but haven't seen specifics.