Readers may remember the ACCG has focused much of its efforts (and collectors' money) on trying to use an illegal coin import (Chinese, Cypriot coins bought from Spinks in London) to force a case proving Peter Tompa's batty conspiracy theories. After much toing and froing we are now at the stage at which the US government will forfeit these numismatic items from a group that has steadfastly refused to submit any paperwork showing they were imported legally. Because these blokes are determined to create problem after problem, and apparently have lots more lobbying money from collectors and dealers, they are contesting the forfeit. Now the Baltimore court has decided - pretty reasonably - that there is no defense to forfeiture of the Guild's coins other than to provide documentation to prove legal import ('District Court remains unmoved by extralegal (sic) seizure', June 04, 2014). [UPDATE 16th June 2014: the Court's ruling can be accessed here]
It seems to me that if the object of dispute is on the designated list (and these coins are) and there is no documentation as is required to import them legally, in terms of the law, it is indisputable that the attempt to import them was illegal - no matter whether Tom Dick or Hamid think the coins should be on the designated list.
UPDATE 16th June 2014:
Of course the ACCG, having nothing better to do, is intent on wasting yet more public money by filing another motion to reconsider. Surely it is time for responsible collectors to demand that this self-elected Gang of Seven stop dragging the good name of numismatists through the mud and work instead for a cleaning up of the antiquities market. Let them also shine as an example of the transparency they demand of others and publish the results of the election of officers which appointed the wife of the Executive Director to one of the posts.
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