Nafez Qanadilo writes Wed Apr 15, 2009 on Moneta-L about the country in which he lives (he does not name it, but searching his name suggests it is likely to be Jordan) about “collectors who destroy the context sometimes, but always preserve the artifact”. He says that in his country “it is illegal to trade ancient artifacts” and “In order to find decent coins, you have to go visit gangsters who control looters, you need to visit black markets controlled by corruption, smuggling and crime.” But that is of course only if you are local and have contacts on the ground there. Foreign dealers of course tell us they do not have any contact with these sellers or people who have dealings with them. They presumably have a hotline to the Elves under the magic mountain that supply them with as many coins as the market needs from the region without having to deal with a single local law-breaker.
Vignette: the new logo of the Ancient Coin Dealers Guiltless lobby group.
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1 comment:
I think, as long as it is illegal in the holy land to trande in ancient artifacts, the only way to find antiques, beside plain coincidence, is to search the black market. I am puzzled, by how much artifacts, coins and other that they sell in the US and Europe stating that it is from the holy land, though I believe that there is nothing holy in the way that it reaches the cabinets of collectors.
So I truly do understand the arguments of Mr. Barford but cannot see a way out of the crisis unless some creative and moral thinking is going to happen.
Although I do not agree with you Mr. Barford, on everything but I thank you for the moral sense that your arguments are preaching, may one day the needs of collectors, Archaeologists, and history be truly served.
Kind regards,
Nafez Qanadilo
P.S. to be percise about my where abouts, I live in Jordan, work in Syria, Invest in Lebanon, and originally was born in the West Bank!
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