Statement of the International Association of Professional Numismatists Regarding Criminal ComplaintBrought by the Manhattan District Attorney Against Richard Beale, the Proprietor of Roma Numismatics

The International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN) has become aware that theNew York District Attorney's Office has brought a criminal complaint against Richard Beale, the managingdirector of Roma Numismatics Limited, a London-based auction house. That criminal complaint allegesthat Beale unlawfully purchased valuable coins from Italy, Greece, and Gaza in violation of local nationalpatrimony laws and created false provenances to hide their illicit origins. The criminal complaint alsoalleges that Italo Vecchi, an Italian dealer based in London, aided this effort for a Roman Republican goldcoin of Brutus and another silver coin from Naxos, an ancient Greek colony in Sicily.

IAPN regular members are firms, not individuals. Individuals might becomecorresponding members and, of course, honorary members because of special distinguishedservices rendered to the Association. Roma Numismatics has never been an IAPN memberfirm. Italo Vecchi, who had worked for several members of the IAPN, was made acorresponding member when he retired from day-to-day business and was later made honorarymember for his long service within the IAPN in 2007.

Given the New York District Attorney's allegations, on March 3rd, 2023, the IAPNExecutive Committee decided to suspend Mr. Vecchi pending resolution of these charges. Ifproved to be true, these allegations would constitute a clear and very serious violation of therules of the Association. Nevertheless, IAPN notes that both Messrs. Beale and Vecchi remainentitled to a presumption of innocence until such time that the New York District Attorneysubstantiates these charges in a Court of Law.

The IAPN is a nonprofit organization of the leading international numismatic firmsfounded in 1951. It was formed in the aftermath of WW II to help reestablish relationshipsamongst professional numismatists that had been badly frayed during years of conflict. Theobjectives of IAPN are the development of a healthy and prosperous numismatic tradeconducted according to the highest standards of business ethics and commercial practice, theencouragement of scientific research and the propagation of numismatics, and the creation oflasting and friendly relations amongst professional numismatists around the world. IAPNmembers promise They further promise

The IAPN has over one hundred member-firms around the world in twenty countries, includingtwenty-seven in the US. More about the IAPN may be found on the internet at http://www.iapn-coins.org.

IAPN's complete ethics rules can be found here: https://iapn-coins.org/iapn/association/.

IAPN President Mr. Daniel F. Sedwick adds:

Kavan Ratnatunga writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
GOLD IDES OF MARCH COIN REALISES $4M(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n44a22.html)
RICHARD BEALE OF ROMA NUMISMATICS ARRESTED(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n11a16.html)