Pieces of Our Past: Global History and Antiquities

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Let's Put a Stop to This MOU

The United States Department of State has proposed a renewal of its current Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Cyprus for another five (5) years. Once again, individuals will be afforded an opportunity to comment on whether the MOU should be extended. It is clear that the MOU is not working to achieve the principles proposed by its governing legislation. There is no evidence to support the position that the current MOU has deterred illegal excavation in Cyprus, nor have there been any reports of seizures at US borders of any culturally significant material thought to have been illegally excavated in Cyprus in recent years. Furthermore, its interpretation by U.S. federal authorities often prevents the legal importation of common artifacts freely traded on the legitimate commercial market.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Syrian Import Restrictions Imposed

US Customs has published a very extensive list of "Syrian" artifacts now restricted pursuant to the "Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act." Coin collectors should special take note that that the "designated list" includes all coins minted and circulated in Syria through the Ottoman period.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Collectors' Voices Need to be Heard Once Again!

Collectors' Voices Need to be Heard Once Again! The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and its Cultural Heritage Center have announced a comment period for a proposed extension of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cyprus. Readers will know that the Cyprus MOU was the beginning of the pestilential practice of including ancient coins in the Restricted List. Artifacts on that List may not be imported into the USA, unless accompanied by a valid export permit from the nation with whom the MOU was negotiated. Although the vast majority of public comments recorded have been squarely against import restrictions, the State Department and U.S. Customs have imposed import restrictions on coins anyway, most recently on ancient coins from Bulgaria. They should not be allowed to get away with this. Our silence would just allow the State Department bureaucrats and their allies in the archaeological establishment to claim that collectors have acquiesced to broad restrictions on their ability to import common ancient coins that are widely available worldwide. And, once they get that idea, there is no way to foresee what else they will attempt. Make your voice heard, opposing renewal of this pernicious and unfair agreement.