On July 15, 2021, the ACCG submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of State, regarding the Designated List of restricted ancient coins from the Republic of Turkey that was published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We requested seven categories of documents, including the basis of their “determinations” to legally justify such restrictions, how the restrictions can legally apply to coins that circulated primarily in Turkey, and how they considered the public comments earlier submitted to the Cultural Properties Advisory Committee.   ACCG FOIA request to Dept of State on Turkish coins 7.15.2021 RMyers.pdf

The ACCG has filed a complaint with the Inspector General of the Department of State, that the Cultural Property Advisory Committee fails to include three art trade members as required by law and its Charter.   Our complaint seeks the Inspector General’s investigation, that they confirm that the Committee lacks the legally-required “fair representation,” and that adequate correction steps occur.   ACCG complaint to the IG on lack of fair representation on the CPAC (RMyers 6.21.2021).pdf

On May 12, 2021 the ACCG submitted its second request to Secretary of State Blinken, that there be “fair representation” on Cultural Property Advisory Committee, by adding art trade members as required by law.  Since we had received no response to our first letter dated April 1, 2021, this letter also advises of our intention to file a complaint with the Inspector General in thirty days, unless fair representation occurs.  ACCG second letter to Secretary Blinken seeking fair representation on the CPAC (RMyers 5.12.2021).pdf

The ACCG has filed a Freedom of Information Act appeal regarding the Smithsonian’s withholding of all 37 pages of responsive materials on their virtual workshop training US law enforcement "to combat trafficking in ancient coins."  We believe that the public has a keen interest for this information, since we question whether anti-collecting archaeological advocacy groups were invited to participate when trade associations and collectors groups like the ACCG were not.  We are also concerned that the workshop was an indoctrination session that suggests that any unprovenanced ancient coin is illegal, when that is simply not the case.  Here is our FOIA appeal letter:  ACCG RMyers FOIA appeal of Smithsonian withholding all 37 pages on virtual task force (5.4.2021).pdf

On April 20, 2021 the ACCG submitted comments on the European Commission‘s draft rules on the introduction and the import of cultural goods into the European Union.  As detailed in our written comments, we requested the draft rules be clarified to confirm that its List of supporting documents, to prove licit provenance in an import license application for any ancient and modern collectors’ coins, do not apply to counties like the United States when they are a “country of interest,” when such coins have been properly located in the country for more than five years.  ACCG comments on EU draft rule.pdf

The ACCG has sent a letter to the Secretary of State on getting fair representation on the Cultural Property Advisory Committee.

ACCG letter to Secretary Blinkin on CPAC composition with attached GHA letter 4.1.2021.pdf

The ACCG has submitted a FOIA request to the Smithsonian regarding training of the Antiquities Task Force, and how law enforcement officials  are supposed to determine how and when imported coins may be subject to seizure. 

ACCG RMyers FOIA request to Smithsonian about Antiquities Task Force 3.24.2021.pdf

On behalf of the Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, this responds to object to the proposed MOU and associated import restrictions with the Republic of Albania, and object to the proposed extension and amendment of the MOU and associated import restrictions with the Arab Republic of Egypt, as it impacts ancient coins, that is being considered by U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee in a public notice described at 86 Federal Register 84 7 4, Docket DOS-2021-0003 (February 5, 2021)......

Read full document here:

ACCG objection to proposed Albania and Egypt MOU as applied to ancient coins 2.26.2021.pdf

Ancient Coin Collectors Guild objections to the proposed renewal of US-Greece MOU 9.11.2020.pdf

..."we question why it is necessary to extend this MOU, when the real jeopardy to Italy's cultural patrimony seems to come from poor stewardship by the Italian State..." Read full document here: ACCG_11-page_comments_objecting_to_ACCG proposal_to_extend_US-Italy_MOU_7_6_2020.pdf