My 5 cent contribution...
We are discussing here few different dilemmas:
1. Breaking laws.
The laws are different in different countries and some of them hurts human rights and shall be broken (I agree that preservation of historic sites is NOT one of such laws). Not necessary violating of government rules makes you criminal in eyes of all human beings. Some rules are universal and braking of them makes you immoral person. I don't think that picking up coin from famous or anonymous archaeological site makes you criminal or scum more than violating traffic rules that can cause to injury or death of people. It is not black and white, as some posters here wrote. I think that the person that picked up the coin in many cases makes comprehensive research about it, the historic period, the ruler, etc., keeps this coin for many years and passes it to descendants as family relic. This contributes to
history and archaeology popularization much more than storing it in archaeological authority warehouse (no one makes illusion that this coin will be exhibited in museum).
2. Causing damage to archaeological research.
In theory, removal of coins, pieces of
pottery can cause to damage to historical research without connection to legislation in specific country. Metal detecting and removing of ancient artifacts in
Germany or
Austria hurts archaeological sites exactly as in
Italy,
Greece,
Egypt,
Israel, Lebanon or
Iraq. I don't think that as rule every detectiorist can decide by himself whether some specific artifact is important evidence and can contribute to research or it is meaningless and coming from destroyed
strata.
In addition, keep in mind that many of coins purchased from legal dealers or
ebay auctions are coming directly from archaeological sites around the world rather than from "old"
collections. Some coins and artifacts in this days are also coming from looted national museums in
Libya,
Egypt,
Syria,
Iraq. Some of them were removed systematically from areas controlled by IS and income from
selling them is one of many sources feeding the hungry beast of civil war in
Syria or
Iraq.
Is the conclusion of this to ban collecting of
ancient coins, artifacts around the world? My personal mind - no. Everyone makes
his decision whether to collect the coins or no, from where to buy them,
pick up the stray findings from the surface or look for them with metal detector.
"Do not censure other people, and they will not censure you"
Regards,
Explorer