Coiney Stupidity has no Boundaries. Really

[Update 21.02.15: IAPN site URL removed - malware alert] 

Hands off Mozzarella, Insalata Caprese

The lobbyist working for the International Association of Professional Numismatists and the Professional Numismatists' Guild, whose motto is "Knowledge, Integrity, Responsibility" stretches the bounds of all three in his latest attempt to get riled-up coineys opinion-bombing the Department of State over the renwal of the Italy cultural property MOU ('Enough Already: Oppose Yet Another Renewal of the Italian MOU', Cultural Property Observer Friday, February 20, 2015). Its author surmises without any foundation

Now, it’s quite possible that the archaeological lobby, which actively opposes private collecting, will press for import restrictions on Roman Imperial Coins—the heart of ancient coin collecting—as well.  Accordingly, if one feels strongly about their continued ability to collect Roman Imperial and other historical coins and artifacts, they should comment on the regulations.gov website.  

[Note the misuse of commas in that first sentence.] Well, it is quite possible that, to spite pizza-loving collectors, those nasty archaeologists accused of stretching the law could press also for import restrictions on Mozzarella di Bufala Campana cheese as embodying important intangible cultural values.  Accordingly, if one feels strongly about their continued ability to eat imported cheese in their Caprese salad will - just in case - also be hot-footing it along to the 'regulations.gov website' with the chicken-licken-sky-falling-in crowd. Tompa then adds cynical manipulation of the cognitively-challenged in the coin collecting community to his other sins:  

It has never made sense to place restrictions on ancient coins, particularly when there is large, open and legal internal market for the exact same sort of coins within Italy itself.  It makes even less sense to contemplate new restrictions on ancient Roman Imperial Coins.  These originally circulated throughout Europe, the Middle East and even parts of Asia and have been actively collected since the Renaissance.  They “belong” not to Italy, but to us all. 

And so does mozzarella cheese!! Hands off our mozzarella !! Tompa's crib-sheet of what cheese-lovers should say to the CPAC goes as follows:   

Provide a brief, polite explanation about why the renewal should be denied or limited.  Question CPAC why it’s necessary to renew this MOU yet again when looting is under control and the real jeopardy to Italy’s cultural patrimony comes from poor stewardship by the Italian State.  Indicate how restrictions will negatively impact your business and/or the cultural understanding and people to people contacts collecting provides.    

The lawyer seems to forget that all oral and written comments must relate specifically to the determinations under 19 U.S.C. 2602, pursuant to which the Committee must make findings. 

Why the IPN and IAPN want to oppose the renewal of an agreement to reduce antiquity smuggling from Italy by such deceitful means is anyone's guess. What does that say about them and their members?