Salut zusammen,
folgender aktuelle Artikel ist mir vor kurzem im amerikanischen Forum untergekommen:
Friends (and otherwise);
The U.S. State Department has announced a date of May 6-7 for Cultural Property
Advisory Committee hearings on the request for renewal of the Memorandum of
Understanding with Italy. Hopefully your eyes are not already glazed over by
this first sentence. In practical terms, the U.S. government is about to decide
whether antiquities and other forms of cultural property that Italy claims as
its heritage ought to be restricted from entry into the U.S. unless accompanied
by Italian export permits. There is already such an agreement in place, but
ancient coins have been exempted twice before in these renewal requests that
cover a 5-year window. We have very good reason to believe that Italy and
members of the archaeological community will this time seek to add coins to the
list of restricted items. There is a period open for public comment on the issue
and the best way to comment is by fax. Don't despair, this is VERY easily
done. Simply go to the ACCG web site at
http://accg.us and click on the Fax
Wizard link (picture of U.S. Capitol Building) on the left side of the page. It
says "Fax Your Legislator" but will indeed send your message to the State
Department. You will be guided through a brief and easy to follow process that
sends a free fax to the State Department registering your views.
Why oppose these import restrictions? Because Roman coins are at the very core
of the cultural experience that we all treasure. They have circulated all over
the known world in antiquity and since through trade and collector markets. It
is impossible to distinguish a Roman coin found in Britain, for example, from
exactly the same type, mint, etc found in Italy. Requiring an export permit from
Italy on a coin found and legally exported from Britain would not only be
impractical, it would not have any legal foundation. Still, any court challenge
by an individual is unlikely since the legal costs usually far exceed the value
of seized objects. Import restrictions are simply not a viable solution to
protecting archaeological sites. They are an idealist panacea that cause far
more harm to society than any possible good. Excluding the U.S. collector and
trade from the legitimate world market for Roman coins, or unilaterally forcing
draconian documentation requirements on Americans, would be grossly prejudicial
and would certainly be against the interests of American citizens and their
traditional freedoms.
We simply MUST oppose any expansion of the MOU with Italy to include coins. We
must do so with an absolutely resounding voice. EVERY person reading this has an
interest in ancient coins, even if you don't collect Roman coins, and needs to
make their view known. The entire hobby is being challenged. There is simply
nothing more important to do RIGHT NOW than to take five minutes, go to the ACCG
fax wizard and register your concern. Don't wait 'til the 22 April
deadline.
The ACCG will defend the hobby to the best of its ability, but in the final
analysis it is the will of the people that will prevail. Those who speak most
loudly and clearly will succeed. DO IT!
With best wishes,
Wayne G. Sayles
Executive Director, ACCG
