Smuggling attempt of 30 ancient metal coins foiled

CAIRO – 24 May 2018: The Archaeology Unit at Alexandria port, in cooperation with the custom department, foiled on Thursday a smuggling attempt of 30 ancient metal coins, according to Head of the Central Administration of Seized Antiquities Unit, Hamdy Hammam.

Hammam remarked that an archaeological committee of experts from the Graeco Roman museum was formed to inspect the authenticity of the coins after they had been presented to the Archaeology Unit at Alexandria port.

He added that upon inspection the committee has approved the authenticity of the coins and seized them according to Egypt’s antiquities law number 117 of 1983 and its amendments.

In the same context, director of archaeological unit, Mohamed Osman, said that the seized artifacts include 22 bronze coins dating back to the early and late Roman era and the period between the first and third centuries AD, along with five bronze coins dating back to more than 135 years ago.

In the last few months, Tourism and Antiquities Police managed to seize a huge number of artifacts in Upper Egypt; for example, in October 2017, the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Police managed to seize around 99 artifacts from two citizens in Assiut.

In January 2018, the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Police managed to seize a historical statue dating back to the Pharaonic era, in addition to discovering illegal excavation works, searching for unearthed artifacts beneath two houses in Sohag.

Police of Antiquities and Tourism seized on May 10, 18 artifacts found at the home of one of Minya’s residents.

Also, Napoli Police seized a collection of parcels filled with antiquities from several civilizations, with 118 artifacts from the ancient Egyptian era among them.