Talk about overreach! The Luxor Times is reporting "An attempt to smuggle 3 antique coins was foiled at Cairo airport". What happened was that a traveller on his way to Dubai was stopped by the customs and the Antiquities Unit at Cairo airport, and was accused of trying to "smuggle 3 antique coins". But the photos of these "priceless antiquities, treasured cultural property of the Egyptian people" are pretty shocking
Two of the coins dated back to 1937 (2 Piasters) and 1939 (5 Piasters).(1 pound = 100 Piasters) Both coins hold the picture of King Farouk I. The third coin is 1 American dollar dated to 1789. The coin shows on one side President George Washington and the other side the Statue of Liberty. The coins were confiscated for the Ministry of Antiquities and procedures are being taken to hand the American coin to the United States embassy in Cairo as soon as possible based on the UNESCO convention.Yes, I am sure the American people will be eternally grateful to the arabs for stopping this heinous crime and returning to the USA such valuable cultural item. Washington Dollars were the first coins to be released in the Presidential Dollar program in February 2007 - it is not stated whether the seized "precious coin" has the edge lettering or not. Idiots.