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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Aethelred, post: 3270189, member: 81808&quot;]I do not believe that only governments should be allowed to own significant or interesting items. I say this not only because of my philosophical belief in smaller less intrusive governments, although that certainly does come into play.</p><p><br /></p><p>I believe that if you concentrate all important ancient coins and artifacts into a few centralized location, although they may be better protected from loss, theft or damage over the short term, they are actually at greater risk over the long sweep of history. Sooner or later every government will become corrupt, or be overthrown. By putting everything in one place you make it an easy target for the Vandals, Huns, Norse, Turks, French mobs, Bolsheviks, Nazis or ISIS of the future. It is far better for the chances of survival of these ancient treasures to disperse them to tens of thousands of collectors who are motivated to preserve and cherish them.</p><p><br /></p><p>**Edit to add - It is not my contention that no coins should be housed in museums or that museums do not render a valuable and welcome service in preserving our history. They do and I enjoy going to museums when the opportunity arises. As a hobby we are also deeply in debt to the staff of museums for their research (think Harold Mattingly).[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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