BBC: "Another French museum robbery sees 2,000 gold and silver coins stolen"
Goldbully
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BBC: Another French museum robbery sees 2,000 gold and silver coins stolen
9 hours ago
Tom McArthur
The treasure on display at Maison des Lumières is part of the city's private collection
Around 2,000 gold and silver coins worth around €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000) were stolen during a raid at another French museum - just hours after the audacious theft of some of the French crown jewels at the Louvre in Paris.
The incident happened at a museum dedicated to French philosopher Denis Diderot in Landres, north-eastern France on Sunday night.
When the Maison des Lumières (House of Enlightenment) opened on Tuesday, workers noticed a smashed display case and raised the alarm, officials said. The coins were selected with "great expertise", a statement to French media from the local authority said.
It is the latest in a recent string of heists at cultural institutions across France.
The stolen coins date from between 1790 and 1840 and are part of the city's private collection, after being discovered in 2011 during renovation work at the building that now houses the museum, according to local media.
Comments
I have an original Mona Lisa for sale, if anyone's interested.
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Too bad they can't have reproductions made and put on display, with the original coins kept in a vault somewhere.
probably the best idea considering the increased frequency of thefts, #sad
It's all about what the people want...
They can. I just don't think they routinely do any more.
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It appears to be an open secret that many museums have not kept up in any way with modern security, deterrence and surveillance and, thus, open season for anything that can be easily melted or otherwise liquidated.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
i think you are correct. IMHO many museums probably know they need better security, but are kept on tight budgets by the city, state or national government that funds them. The museums could sell a few things to obtain funds, but that probably goes against their ethos.