From Foreign Archaeological Records to a Wisconsin Collection

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In the previous post I was looking at the eBay feedback of seller samhan_53024 who announces himself on the coiney forums as collector Reverend Bulgerin of Grafton Wisconsin from the point of view of the duplicates he was selling off. Here, I'd just like to mention a couple of reflections on what these lists show he was buying

I noted that the coins he was disposing of are dominated by coins of the same types and mints as commonly found in southeastern Europe, such as are coming in huge quantities (from the destruction of archaeological deposits on a huge scale) from illegal excavations in the Balkans. Recently he seems to have bought one or more bulk lots from a metal detectorist in "Southeastern England". Before this he was buying coins from other British metal detectorists to a quite noticeable degree. This rathercalls into question the oft-heard statement that coins from metal detectiong settlement finds are not collectable (because allegedly not in the same state as hoard coins) and that US collectors are not purchasing such finds. Well, here one clearly is. Are these coins really so "uncollectable"? Rev,. Bulgerin obviously knbows his coin typology and finds much of interest in the offered material, and many of the photos show the stuff he is buying to be in perfectly good condition.

Interestingly, looking over the Reverend's purchases, one is struck by the degree to which Hungary now figures there as a source country. I have long suspected that some of the bulk items on both western and eastern European markets are coming from Hungary now, perhaps as the supply of lootable coins from Bulgaria and the Balkans dries up, the archaeological heritage of other countries is now at greater risk.

One final point, as noted above, Rev. Bulgerin has been buying coins from other English metal detectorists, from both northern and southern England. Take a look at their offers and not how many of them say that they will post the coins immediately after receiving payment - and the export licences? Methinks the PAS ought to produce guidelines for sellers of British-dug antiquities abroad informing them of what the law says.
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