Numismatic treasures: Italy gives back ancient purloined coins to Greece

Met dank overgenomen van Italiaans voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2014 (Italiaans voorzitterschap) i, gepubliceerd op vrijdag 26 september 2014.

Return ceremony at Venaria Palace

The Italian Minister for Culture, Dario Franceschini, and the Chief of the Carabinieri’s division for the protection of cultural heritage, Mariano Mossa, handed back to the Greek Culture Minister, Costantinos Tassoulas, 82 Hellenic coins of great archaeological value, 93 made of silver and three made of bronze.

The return ceremony took place at Venaria Palace, where the informal meeting of the 28 EU Culture Ministers was held. The coins, sacked in Northern Greece, were recovered in 2008 by the Carabinieri during an operation in the Veneto region.

This is the first application on the Italian territory of the Council directive of 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State. The restitution process includes a legal action to recover ownership. “The restitution of these important archaeological objects is an example of protection of cultural goods within the EU” Minster Franceschini said.

Attached below the Press release.

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