Comments Open on Upcoming MOUs

[Kyle Ponterio]

My name is Kyle Ponterio, and I am a third-generation professional coin dealer with nearly 20 years of professional experience. I have always found coins and other numismatic objects quite special, and collecting them holds a great deal of meaning to me. I began working for Stack’s Bowers Galleries (then Ponterio & Associates) in 2005 under the tutelage of my father, Richard Ponterio, and brother, Kent Ponterio, and have remained with the company through its many changes. Stack’s is a long-time member of the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN) (https://www.iapn-coins.org/association), an organization that works to maintain a healthy and prosperous numismatic trade through the enforcement of the highest standards of business ethics and commercial practices. The IAPN also battles against the distribution of forgeries and other illicit activities as well as lobbying against extreme or stifling measures by government agencies. We are calling all collectors and enthusiasts to take a moment and to please consider opposing a possible effort to expand current import restrictions upon Roman Imperial coins. These restrictions would permit US customs to assume all such coins are “Italian” in origin and to detain, seize, and repatriate them if the importer does not prove that they were sourced from Italy prior to the date of the regulation. Commenting is easy to do, and you do not need to be a US citizen to do so. Details as follows: https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2024/12/please-help-save-roman-imperial-coin.html

[Valentinian]

I submitted a comment opposing any MOUs that might restrict import of Roman coins. As a scholar, I am well aware that the trade and amateurs produce a good fraction of all scholarship about ancient coins. There are not enough professionals to study every part of the vast topic of ancient coins. Without collecting, many  scholars, myself included, would never have gotten deep enough into the material to make a contribution. 

I won't reproduce my comments here, but I will encourage you to comment on the possibility that import of ancient coins may be restricted. 

You can comment here:
https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=DOS-2024-0048

[robinjojo]

3 hours ago, Kyle Ponterio said:

My name is Kyle Ponterio, and I am a third-generation professional coin dealer with nearly 20 years of professional experience. I have always found coins and other numismatic objects quite special, and collecting them holds a great deal of meaning to me. I began working for Stack’s Bowers Galleries (then Ponterio & Associates) in 2005 under the tutelage of my father, Richard Ponterio, and brother, Kent Ponterio, and have remained with the company through its many changes. Stack’s is a long-time member of the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN) (https://www.iapn-coins.org/association), an organization that works to maintain a healthy and prosperous numismatic trade through the enforcement of the highest standards of business ethics and commercial practices. The IAPN also battles against the distribution of forgeries and other illicit activities as well as lobbying against extreme or stifling measures by government agencies. We are calling all collectors and enthusiasts to take a moment and to please consider opposing a possible effort to expand current import restrictions upon Roman Imperial coins. These restrictions would permit US customs to assume all such coins are “Italian” in origin and to detain, seize, and repatriate them if the importer does not prove that they were sourced from Italy prior to the date of the regulation. Commenting is easy to do, and you do not need to be a US citizen to do so. Details as follows: https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2024/12/please-help-save-roman-imperial-coin.html

Hello Kyle, and welcome to Numis Forums.

I submitted my comment earlier in the week.  I do hope that ancient coins are exempted in the MOU.  Making them subject to import restrictions to the US will open a Pandora's Box for US dealers, auction houses and collectors.

I used to to be a fairly active bidder back when your dad headed Ponterio and Associates in the 80s and 90s.  I really do miss the old days of collecting.

[panzerman]

Coins can always be sent "discreet" as normal letter mail😎

[Bannerknight]

As a Norwegian collector, I find it a bit strange that coins from Italian auction houses are restricted to Italian buyers only. While I can understand the wish to protect Italy's cultural and numismatic heritage, only a fraction of coins offered end up in Italian museum collections. The current restrictions only foster illegal trade, potentially benefiting criminal organisations. I can of course understand that museums should get first pick of new finds, but the current regime affects interest in the numismatic history of Italy negatively.

[John Conduitt]

A lot of the concerns are conjecture. It's important to comment, of course, since the worst case scenario is very detrimental, but it's unlikely.

Quite frankly, it's the stubbornness and laziness of collectors - as well as quite a bit of actual smuggling - that has resulted in there not being a paper trail for 'most' coins (although clearly many do have one, and certainly not only 'valuable Greek coins'). Perhaps we should wake up and take provenance more seriously. These rules have been growing for two decades and yet still collectors and dealers refuse to maintain a paper trail.

[panzerman]

I have had zero problems with Italian auction houses/ as I just got this Italian coin last week😎

[DonnaML]

9 hours ago, panzerman said:

I have had zero problems with Italian auction houses/ as I just got this Italian coin last week😎

Not an ancient coin. The laws in Italy are already quite different for those.

[DonnaML]

12 hours ago, John Conduitt said:

A lot of the concerns are conjecture. It's important to comment, of course, since the worst case scenario is very detrimental, but it's unlikely.

Quite frankly, it's the stubbornness and laziness of collectors - as well as quite a bit of actual smuggling - that has resulted in there not being a paper trail for 'most' coins (although clearly many do have one, and certainly not only 'valuable Greek coins'). Perhaps we should wake up and take provenance more seriously. These rules have been growing for two decades and yet still collectors and dealers refuse to maintain a paper trail.

Even more important, perhaps, is the fact that until the last 25 years or so, the majority of ancient Roman coins sold in the market, whether at retail or at auction -- especially coins that were relatively common and/or inexpensive -- weren't illustrated in any catalog. Making it impossible to prove that they were outside Italy before certain dates.

Edited January 6 by DonnaML

[Gallienus]

On 1/4/2025 at 3:25 PM, Kyle Ponterio said:

My name is Kyle Ponterio, ... in 2005 under the tutelage of my father, Richard Ponterio, and brother, Kent Ponterio...

https://culturalpropertyobserver.blogspot.com/2024/12/please-help-save-roman-imperial-coin.html

Thanks for posting this Kyle. I'll write them as I believe there should be a balance between private collections and museum / government entity-politician ownership.

Private ownership encourages further research into coins and gives them value. It distributes them more broadly giving them more care & protection. 

I also use my ancient collection for teaching 6th-graders at a local high school about Greek & Roman history. While a few museum collections are really well done, without the historical context that only a numismatic specialist can provide in person, excessive displays of coinage are not desired by the general public.

Anyhow, I hope to see all of you Ponterios at the NYINC next week.

Regards, John / Gallienus 

 

[Al Kowsky]

I posted my objections a number of times to these ridiculous MOUs when Harlan J. Berk was leading the charge against them. When all was said & done I felt like I was "pissing against the wind" 😖.

[panzerman]

6 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

I posted my objections a number of times to these ridiculous MOUs when Harlan J. Berk was leading the charge against them. When all was said & done I felt like I was "pissing against the wind" 😖.

Al/ thats just like trying to blow leaves against the wind🤐.......

[wuntbedruv]

On 1/5/2025 at 1:14 PM, John Conduitt said:

A lot of the concerns are conjecture. It's important to comment, of course, since the worst case scenario is very detrimental, but it's unlikely.

Quite frankly, it's the stubbornness and laziness of collectors - as well as quite a bit of actual smuggling - that has resulted in there not being a paper trail for 'most' coins (although clearly many do have one, and certainly not only 'valuable Greek coins'). Perhaps we should wake up and take provenance more seriously. These rules have been growing for two decades and yet still collectors and dealers refuse to maintain a paper trail.

Smuggling? Of coins? Across borders, in their thousands, after their dubious 'excavation', being dispersed through a number of small auction houses which seem to pop up, go for a few years then get shut down? Auction houses which all seem to be managed and run by the same few connected people? 😉

Nahhhh, that couldn't POSSIBLY be happening.