US returns to Italy about 600 stolen artifacts worth $65 million

Antiquities returned by the US to Italy

All of the artifacts and antiquities were stolen and brought to the United States at various stages, then sold to galleries, museums and private collectors across the country.

Italian officials said the repatriation was the result of a lengthy investigation by the Carabinieri Heritage Protection Unit of the Italian military, in coordination with several Italian prosecutors' offices and with the support of US authorities.

According to the Carabinieri, among the stolen artifacts were bronzes and coins, all obtained from illegal excavations in central and southern Italy and from burglaries of museums, churches and private homes.

The most valuable artifacts are a bronze artifact from ancient Greece dating from the 1st century BC and a silver coin also from ancient Greece from the 4th century BC that are expected to be offered for about $500,000 in New York.

There are also ancient coins, mosaics and jewellery dating from the 9th century BC to the 3rd century AD and frescoes from the 17th century.

This is the latest result in Italy's efforts to recover thousands of antiquities that were stolen and illegally sold to art dealers around the world .

According to the Carabinieri, in 2023 alone, some 105,474 stolen artifacts worth around 264 million euros were found and returned to Italy.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/my-tra-cho-y-khoang-600-co-vat-bi-danh-cap-tri-gia-65-trieu-usd-20240529155517746.htm