“Modern Legal History”
SKYTHIA, Geto-Dacians. Koson. Mid 1st century BC. AV Stater (20mm, 8.30 g, 12h). Roman consul accompanied by two lictors; monogram to left; KOΣΩΝ in exergue / Eagle standing left on scepter, with wings displayed, holding wreath in talon. Iliescu pl. II, 1; RPC I 1701; BMC 1. Superb EF, sharply struck.
Ex Gorny & Mosch 203 (5 March 2012), lot 102 [withdrawn].
This coin appeared in Gorny & Mosch Auction 203, but was withdrawn when a claim was made for it by the Romanian government. Romania claimed that the coin was the product of an illegal excavation in Romania and, under Romanian law, was the property of the state. Gorny & Mosch disputed the Romanian claim. and the case was heard by the Munich District Court (Amtsgericht München), which issued its opinion on 15 May 2012. The court found in favor of Gorny & Mosch, ruling that the Romanians had failed to establish whether the coin “actually came from the act of illegal excavation cited in the request for legal assistance or from an entirely different source.” The coin was accordingly returned to Gorny & Mosch, and it now has an interesting modern legal history as well as its ancient significance.
