What is the Unidroit Convention?
The Unidroit Convention (1995) is an international agreement for the
return of stolen or illegally exported "cultural objects." It
includes among the items defined as "cultural objects:"
(e) antiquities more than one hundred years old, such as
inscriptions, coins and engraved seals
(i) postage, revenue and similar stamps, singly or in collections

Why are stamp, coin and antiquities dealers and collectors concerned
about the Unidroit Convention?

The definitions of coins and stamps are so broadly stated that any
collector or institution owning a stamp or coin more than one hundred
years old, issued from another country than that in which the
collection resides, could be required to return it to the country of
origin in the absence of documentary proof that the object was
legally exported.

Description

This list is dedicated to discussing the effects of the Unidroit
Convention and related legislation on trading in and collecting
antiquities, and in particular, on ancient coin collecting.
Topics may include the intent and scope of Unidroit and related
legislation, the intentions and motives of those who advocate this
legislation, news and events related to this legislation, ways in
which this legislation could be modified/improved, alternative
approaches to dealing with the problems that Unidroit addresses, news
and events related to illegal export of antiquities, site robbing and
anything else that tends to discredit antiquities trading or
collecting as an avocation. Basically anything to do with the law as
it applies to trading in and collecting ancient artifacts, in
particular coins, is on topic. Lively discussions are encouraged but
extended flames, abusive language, rants and repetitious postings are
not. Sales notices and other commercial postings are not allowed

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Your moderator (listowner) is Dave Welsh.

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List Use and Rules

Language
The language used in all posts, announcements and replies shall be
English.

What is allowed?
Almost anything as long as it is related to the law as it applies to
trading in and collecting ancient artifacts. Examples:

* The effects of the Unidroit Convention on collecting, including
legal obligations for collectors.
* The case for the Unidroit Convention - site robbing and
unethical antiquities trading.
* If the Unidroit Convention is adopted, will it be effective in
eliminating site looting?
* Who is behind Unidroit? Who are its active proponents?
* The case against the Unidroit Convention - its side effects, the
difficulties of collecting under Unidroit.
* The good that collectors do - their contributions to education,
society, science and museums.
* Alternative methods of preventing or discouraging site looting.
* Alternative approaches to reforming the antiquities trade to
control trade in looted objects.
* Should common minor antiquities such as coins, seals, scarabs
and oil lamps be treated differently?

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