Identifying coins from Pompeii encrusted with volcanic ash

@Bert Gedin I am actually thinking to rent a metal detector and search around pompeii to see if I find anything by the way in case I got lucky would italian government respect my ownership of the find? I heard in italy it is illegal not sure though

 

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Where there's a question, there's an answer - even in numismatics !!!

 

Interesting new book regarding pompeii coins.

http://coinsweekly.com/en/News/Shedding-light-on-coins-from-Pompeii/4?&id=5445

 

Would Metal Detecting be allowed in Pompei ? Very unlikely. "Pompei made it through a Volcano, but can it Survive Vandals ?" If you want to risk plunder in one of the world's foremost cultural/historical sites, then, at least, you may have some CoinTalk members bringing you gifts from Bacchus, behind your Italian bars.

 

Even in countries where you are permitted to search there are areas that are off limits. Pompeii is a cash cow for the local government. I suspect that they would limit any permits only to recognized archeological digs. You could probably volunteer to help the archies find things but they won't let you keep what you find either. Your best bet would be the area between Pompeii and the ocean were fleeing survivors would have travelled in an attempt to reach safety. Some may have paused to lighten their loads along the way. good lucl

 

Do you have artifacts from PomPeii, Type? If so, where did you get them?

My bro would definitely be interested in getting an artifact from there someday.

Thanks man,

Erin

 

A search for "roman artifacts for sale" will lead you to several dealers. good luck.

 

Verycool

 

my friend I can do anything. I survived communist China . I used metal detection in a small village close to louyang and found a shang ding if you know what is a shang ding you can check to see how much they sold at Sotheby one of them is the one I have them . and smuggling it out was easy peasy so if one can do that in communist China I'm sure can be done in Italy!!!!

 

It is highly illegal to metal detect for Roman coins or artifacts anywhere in Italy, even on your own property. That doesn't mean people don't do it, but it is a very dangerous game. I'll leave it at that.

 

@Jay GT4 I understand what you say but the fact that there is so many ancient coins in market means 2 possibilities

1. most of them are fake

2. if they are real they come from some people finding them with metal detecting which means if it was that dangerous then why so many of them show up in market?

 

Coins don't just come from Italy.

 

but i know few auctions like bartolemi who sells the coin in Italy. if illegal why can he have a store and business to sell these? I'm sure his source most likely comes from coins found locally.

 

It is possible to buy and sell coins in Italy. I have several. They have to be accompanied by the proper paper work or be mailed out from San Marino.

 

ok so this is a bit of paradox. if the government rules don't allow for people to find and sell ancient coins in order to protect them as cultural heritage, then why on the other hand government itself let the sale of these protected items to happen? I assume the logic behind the ban is to keep these items for museums and government and not let them leave Italy .

 

Because Italy is an extremely bureaucratic country...

 

I see I'm planning to go there this year so hopefully I can buy some coins there

 

Don't bother. They're usually more expensive because of tourists. But it's always nice to look.

 

dealers in the surrounding countries should have a nice stock of them. At one time a roman senator was paid 1.8 million ?sestersi? per month. Coins were delivered and dumped in a hole in the ground. Just one of those caches surfacing is enough to supply any collectors.

 

I looked at some nice coins when I visited Venice a few years ago. Yes, with the proper paperwork, you can buy coins legally in Italy. BTW, the shop I visited was quite expensive. One of the reasons was the extra expense for the bureaucracy.