Iran seeks to halt NY auction of stolen ancient coins, repatriate artifacts
Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts is actively working to prevent a New York auction featuring ancient coins that were stolen from archaeological sites in Beyza, Fars Province. Last year, unauthorized diggers excavated 600 ancient coins from various historical periods, and part of these artifacts surfaced in a private auction by Classical Numismatic Group (CNG) in the US.
The auction is scheduled for January 14, 2025, and includes two Sasanian coins from the Beyza archaeological site. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts confirmed the authenticity of these coins and is taking steps to stop the auction in order to ensure their return to Iran, ILNA reported.
Mohammad Reza Zahedi, director of the Department of the Cultural Property of Museums Headquarters, stated, “We are actively pursuing this issue, and the documents for the swift restitution of these Sasanian and Achaemenid coins are ready.”
The excavated coins include 380 Seleucid coins, 97 coins from the time of Alexander the Great, and others from various Persian dynasties, all of which were removed during illegal excavations. The CNG auction house has listed one of the coins, known as “Azarmidokht,” which weighs 3.75 grams and features an image of Khosrow Parviz, Azarmidokht’s father. This coin has a starting price of $6,000, with projected sales reaching $10,000.
The second coin, attributed to the Persepolis mint and dating back to around 300 BC, is priced starting at $45,000, with an estimated final sale price of approximately $5.7 million. It depicts a Persian king and a battle scene, showcasing a Persian warrior overpowering a Greek soldier.
Despite the clear evidence of the coins’ origins, CNG has misidentified the Azarmidokht coin as being from Central Asia and has not disclosed its illicit background.
Zahedi noted that the ministry has been alerted to the situation and is determined to secure the return of these historical artifacts.
The illegal excavation in Beyza, which involved two 17-year-old diggers, led to a burgeoning underground market for these valuable historical items.